In front of this 1.5-acre fruit farm at Irimpanam in Tripunithura, there is a board with a message: “Dogs will be given free.” There are many kinds of fruits on the farm, a small penthouse in the midst and a caretaker. More importantly, abandoned, sick and disabled dogs roam around the farm freely without anyone to sneer at them but are taken care with much love. Johny V. John, who is lovingly called Johny Uncle, and his wife Reena John have opened this special farm for animals. Over 30 rescued dogs from the streets are fed and sheltered in Johny’s farm.
Johny V John with his farm dogs
At a time when there is a raging debate about the stray dog menace and majority opinion is in favour of culling the ones who pose a threat to humans, this couple are going out of their way to rehabilitate them and make them worthy of adoption.
Johny and Reena get many calls every day either for adopting the dogs or to leave them in the farm. “We opened the farm in the year 2000 after we returned from Mumbai. We decided to start a farm after we rescued a dog that was lying injured and abandoned in the street. Most of the dogs which are accomodated here live in perfect harmony with the other animals,” says Johny and Reena.
Now the couple has submitted a proposal to the Tripunithura municipality to end the stray dog menace, agreeing to incur all the extra costs.
Sally Kannan feeding stray dogs
They are hoping to sterilise upto 40 dogs per day, with the support of other activists. “Most of the attacks happen during their mating period which is between January and February, so we have to finish the process before that season,” says Reena.
Aishwariya Prem and her group of friends are planning to reopen their shelter in Chilavanoor in two months with lots of facilities. The passionate animal lover has also given shelter to 10 street dogs in her house. She shares her stories of rescuing abandoned and hurt dogs. For instance, Veera was found by Aishwariya and brought to the shelter and taken care till it recovered. “Someone had chopped off the front limb of Veera and we brought it to our shelter to take care of it. Our shelter is a place of recovery for such stray dogs. But, we usually don't leave them back to the streets if they are sick or old and thus they become like a family for us.”
Well known animal activist Sally Kannan of Thrissur who is a trained dog- catcher keeps as many sick and old dogs in her home as she can and tends them till they revive their health. “Almost 70 per cent of the street dogs are abandoned from their homes and thus wander in the streets. I accommodate up to 12 dogs in my home, even though there is a limitation of space,” says Sally.
Mohana Nandakumar Pai, another aged resident of Tripunithura, gives shelter to a few stray dogs in her house. Besides, her regular routine is to feed more than 10 stray dogs that assemble near the NSS College. Mohana and her husband also go with a packet of food, every time they step out of their abode, and do not come back without at least feeding one. “It is our duty to take care of the voiceless. A fed dog never attacks a passerby. I always carry some puffs or biscuits to give them when I am travelling,” says Mohana.
