Mumbai:(kulbir kalsi) – Pointing to a condom he's holding in his other hand and next to the caption "If They Could, They Would! Dogs Can't Use a Condom, so Have Them Sterilized", award-winning actor, singer and former TV anchor Ayushmann Khurrana stars in a brand-new ad for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India.

Khurrana – who won a Filmfare Award for Best Male Debut for his starring role in the 2012 box-office hit and critically acclaimed film Vicky Donor as well as a Filmfare Award for Best Male Playback Singer – wants his many fans to know that the best way to take a bite out of the homeless-animal crisis is always to have their dogs and cats spayed or neutered (sterilised). Vicky Donor is a romantic comedy about sperm donation, which is fine for human couples who want to start a family – but take one look at all the dogs and cats living on the streets and languishing in animal shelters for lack of good homes, and it's clear that sterilisation is the answer.

"Cats and dogs can't use condoms. But we can get them sterilized and stop the overpopulation", Khurrana says. "Of course, it's very cruel to kill 'community dogs,' and by killing community dogs, it's not a solution because the territory can be taken by other dogs. So ultimately, it's better to adopt dogs, and sterilization is the best solution."

In India, tens of millions of homeless cats and dogs struggle to survive on the streets. Many of them go hungry, are hit by vehicles or are abused by cruel people. Countless others are kept in animal shelters because there aren't enough good homes for them. PETA also encourages all prospective cat and dog guardians always to adopt from an animal shelter or take in a homeless animal from the streets and never buy from a breeder or a pet shop – both of which only add to the problem. Khurrana will soon be seen alongside Sonam Kapoor in an upcoming movie from Yash Raj films.