India, Feb. 23 -- In one corner of the Hope Carnival in Bandra's The Vintage Garden, four Indie puppies, between three and eight months old, waited for people to take them to their forever homes. They wagged their tails and playfully butted one another while bystanders smiled indulgently at their shenanigans.

The puppies were the stars of the Youth Organisation in Defence of Animals (YODA)'s charity event, designed to raise funds for stray dogs and get them adopted: a vital cause, especially after the Supreme Court order on strays. There were game zones, retail stalls by home-grown brands, a doodling counter, food, attractive merchandise and a fortune wheel that gave winners three options: pay Rs.250 to sponsor five meals for rescued ani...