The Blue Cross of India (BCI), headquartered in Chennai, is one of India’s oldest and most respected animal welfare organizations. It began in 1959 when Captain V. Sundaram, an Indian Airlines pilot, rescued two drowning puppies during a monsoon flood. What started as an act of compassion soon transformed into a structured movement when he, his wife Usha, and their children opened their home to rescued animals. Their organization was officially named the Blue Cross of India in 1964, inspired by global humane movements.
BCI is best known for pioneering the Animal Birth Control – Anti-Rabies (ABC–AR) program in India. Launched in 1964, the initiative offered a humane alternative to the mass killing of stray dogs. The program sterilizes and vaccinates dogs before releasing them back to their territories. This method was revolutionary for its time and eventually became national policy. By 2007, human rabies deaths in Chennai, once common had dropped to zero, thanks to the organization’s consistent implementation of ABC–AR.
Beyond sterilization, BCI operates several animal shelters and hospitals in Tamil Nadu. Its facilities in Guindy, Todukkadu, and Kunnam offer critical care, including ICU units, diagnostics, and a geriatric ward for older animals. The organization also runs mobile veterinary vans and ambulances, bringing medical care directly to injured or ill animals across the city. Their rescue team, led by former commando Dawn Williams, carries out over 2,000 rescues every quarter, ranging from animals stuck in wells to those trapped in traffic or sewers.
Education and community engagement are central to BCI’s long-term strategy. Through its humane education programs, BCI works with schools to instill kindness and empathy for animals from an early age. It also trains community animal caregivers who help manage local stray populations responsibly. Volunteerism is strongly encouraged many Chennai residents support the NGO by fostering animals, helping with rescues, or simply walking dogs at the shelter.
BCI’s work has been recognized both nationally and internationally. The organization holds a Platinum rating from Guidestar India for transparency and governance. It has received prestigious accolades including the Prani Mitra award, the Queen Victoria Medal from RSPCA, and the Winsome Constance Kindness Award. Dr. S. Chinny Krishna, BCI’s co-founder and former vice-chairman of the Animal Welfare Board of India, has been pivotal in shaping animal welfare legislation in the country.
From emergency relief during the COVID-19 lockdown where BCI fed thousands of street animals daily, to recent collaborations with airports and municipal bodies to manage urban stray populations, the Blue Cross of India continues to lead with compassion and innovation. Their journey from a backyard shelter to a global benchmark in humane animal care is a powerful example of how empathy and persistence can reshape society’s relationship with animals.