Now Reading: Kerala woman turns rented home into sanctuary for 46 dogs, 42 cats
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Kerala woman turns rented home into sanctuary for 46 dogs, 42 cats
P. Shyma, a 52-year-old animal lover from Kozhikode, Kerala, has turned her rented house in Badiroor into a shelter for 46 rescued dogs and 42 cats, many of them paralysed, injured by…
P. Shyma, a 52-year-old animal lover from Kozhikode, Kerala, has turned her rented house in Badiroor into a shelter for 46 rescued dogs and 42 cats, many of them paralysed, injured by trains, amputees, or undergoing tumour treatment. Over 19 years, she has rescued hundreds of animals, responding to calls about strays and abandoned pets.
Shyma, district president of People for Animals (PFA), quit a temporary government job after her family's Pomeranian was killed by locals who mistook its choking for rabies. She has moved twice due to neighbour complaints about noise and smell, and now pays Rs 9,000 monthly rent. Her son supports her financially.
She has urged the Kozhikode Corporation to provide land for shelters. Veterinary officer V.S. Sreeshma said the civic body is inviting expressions of interest from individuals and NGOs to establish and operate shelters for street dogs.
Indian Opinion Analysis
India's stray dog population, estimated at over 6 crore, is a persistent urban challenge, with local bodies often struggling to fund and manage animal birth control programmes. Kerala has seen rising tensions between animal feeders and residents, leading to court cases and local by-laws. The Corporation's EOI route is a practical move, but land availability and community opposition remain hurdles. Shyma's case also highlights the burden on individual rescuers, who often operate without institutional support. The next signal to watch is the number of EOIs the Corporation receives and whether they result in allocated land.
Source: thehindu.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
