Baywatch babe lends hand to Mumbai dogs

US actress Pamela Anderson has appealed to the authorities in Mumbai not to put down nuisance stray dogs, instead calling for them to be sterilized. "It is well established that killing stray dogs is not a permanent solution to controlling their populations," the former "Baywatch" star said in a letter to the municipal commission of Greater Mumbai.

"Dogs cannot use condoms, but with the municipality's help, they can be 'fixed' -- painlessly, quickly and permanently," she added in the letter, made public by activist group the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). There are thought to be some 70,000 stray dogs in India's financial and entertainment capital, and there are widespread concerns about their role in spreading disease, including deadly rabies.

Anderson's letter, which cited World Health Organisation and Animal Health Board of India support for mass sterilisation, comes after a legal ruling here to destroy nuisance dogs. Expressing her concern at the court decision, the 41-year-old called instead for civic authorities to promote a sterilisation programme for stray dogs and those adopted and bought from animal shelters and pet shops.

The annual Screen awards ceremony for Hindi films was held on 14th Jan evening. The whole of Bollywood got together to applaud the best performances of 2008. There was a proud moment for all Tamil cinema lovers when Asin was presented with the Best Newcomer award by yesteryear great Rekha. She was also nominated in the best actress category but could not make it. She said that Asin was really worth of the honor and that she had done a good job. Asin was also later seen speaking with Sanjay Khan and Jeetendra, both of whom were very appreciative of her performance. Meanwhile, Rahman added another two to his kitty, winning the best music award for Jaane Tu Yaa Jaane Na and the best background score for Jodha Akbar.