This police officer in Mangaluru feeds street dogs even during lockdown

Vinobha K T | TNN | Apr 15, 2020, 10:54 IST

Poovappa K feeding dogs near Circuit House in Mangaluru.

MANGALURU: This police officer with 31 years of experience in the department turns saviour for street dogs even during lockdown.
Poovappa K, reserve sub inspector in the City Armed Reserve (CAR), never forgets to carry a bag full of biscuits and other food items only to feed street dogs he finds on the way. Poovappa, who is serving for escort to Mangaluru MLA UT Khader, finds happiness in feeding ‘man’s best friend’.
“I have three more years for my retirement. I have been allotted quarters in the city 10 years ago and before that I was living in a house at Talapady. For the past 10 years, I have been feeding canines wherever I find them. I feed biscuits to them when I find them on the way during my VIP escort duty. Meanwhile, routinely I have been feeding 26 dogs every day without fail. I feed them not only biscuits, but also dosas, fish fry and chicken kabab too. There are six dogs near my quarters, whom I feed breakfast every day with the help of my wife. Later, I feed many dogs during my routine work too,” Poovappa told TOI.
Since all shops are closed due to lockdown, Poovappa has made arrangements to cook chicken items at home. “I have kept enough stock of chicken and fish in my house. I cook dry fish for them if I don’t get fresh fish. It is difficult to buy biscuit since all shops are closed. Whenever I find shops open in any towns, I buy biscuits and keep it in the vehicle,” he said.
Most of the dogs in the city do not get sufficient food after all garbage bins are removed, he said and requested people not to neglect dogs.
He says there are many people, who look at him in a ridiculous way when he feed dogs on the streets of city. “They do not feed animals, but look at me in a weird way when I help them. I don’t bother about those people because it is my hard earned money I spend to feed them,” Poovappa said and recalled how street dogs show courtesy by running close the escort vehicle in which he arrive.