KOLLAM: Mr Alphonse Kannanthanam’s elevation as a minister in the Union cabinet has thrilled Bapputty, an animal lover here. Mr Kannanthanam had visited his shelter, where he protects injured strays, when he was an MLA in 2009 and extended him help to take care of the animals. Bapputty hopes that the minister would do the needful for him and the animals in his new capacity. Bapputty, 52, of Kilikolloor, a bachelor and a taxi driver, has been protecting injured strays for the last 30 years. He spent this Onam also with his pets and prepared a feast with nine side dishes, including chicken curry and two types of payasam.
Bapputty has ten dogs and 30 cats under his care and also his favourite eagle ‘Bijili’ along with three other eagles he had rescued. Bapputty, who also feeds stray dogs in Kollam city, was honoured by the state government with the best animal welfare worker award in 2009. “I am happy to feed these animals with my income, which is insufficient. I have not been given any aid by the government to look after the abandoned animals and the expenses come to nearly Rs. 400 per day,” Bapputty says. Bapputty does not own any land and he survives with his pets in a room given by lawyer George Oommen in his house at Kilikolloor.
