Press Club honour for Rajani D Shetty

Mangaluru: Animal rescuer Rajani Damodar Shetty, who feeds more than 800 dogs daily and takes care of a large number of stray dogs, cats, cows, birds and other animals in her house, was selected for the Mangaluru Press Club Award.
Living in a rented house at Mannagudda in the city, Rajani, her husband Damodar Shetty and three children, have been cooking an average of 60kg rice, which is mixed with chicken, for animals every day. In addition, she rescues animals and birds and treats them in her house. Rajani will be honoured with the Mangaluru Press Club Award on the occasion of Press Club Day at Paradise Island in Bokkapatna on March 5, stated a release from Mangaluru Press Club.
Rajani has 55 stray dogs, 15 cats, cows, rabbits and birds in her house. In addition to feeding the animals and birds, Rajani and her family ensure that stray animals don't go hungry. She has facilities in her house to treat injured dogs, cats and birds. In Rajani's opinion, street dogs also deserve to live, and this motivates her to help them.
It may be recalled that the TOI highlighted her courage coupled with her love for animals when she rescued a dog from a 50-feet deep well in Bejai a few years ago. Rajani reaches the spot whenever she receives calls about dogs, cats or any other animals and birds in need of rescue. She takes care of birds injured when trees are cut down for development work in the city.
Rajani’s husband Damodar Shetty and children also support her to supply food to street dogs in various parts of the city. In the past 16 years, Rajani has rescued nearly 2,500 animals and birds. She initially paid for the costs of feeding dogs and other animals herself. Later, organisations and individuals started extending her support.