Cop with a Golden Heart: A friend for the strays

Mangaluru: The most common traits that we usually associate with a policeman are tough, strict and or ruthless. While their job may demand them to be so we must not forget that the man behind the Khaki uniform can have a heart of gold too.

Poovappa K, a reserve sub inspector in the City Armed Reserve truly justifies this. Though his job may demand long working hours there is one thing that Poovappa has been doing on a daily basis for over the last 10 years. The cop has made it a practise to feed the canines near his residence daily morning.

Speaking to Udayavani, Poovappa says that he along with his wife feed some 5-6 stray dogs near his residential quartes everyday. “We give them either biscuits, fish or chicken items,” he says. Amid this lockdown, Poovappa has ensured to keep enough stock of fish/chicken at home.

The list does not end here as Poovappa, if I can say, is a man on a mission. He often carries biscuit packets with him on his way to work as also when he is on escort duty. He feeds not less than 26 dogs on a daily basis while reporting for work.

“I carry around two dozen or so biscuit packet with me. I spend nearly Rs 500-600 daily. But it gives me immense pleasure to feed the strays. They even recognise my escort vehicle and run close to it. My wife has been quite supportive of me in this,” he said.

At times, people throw strange looks at me for feeding the strays but I don’t let that bother me.

The strays do not get adequate food. Earlier they would look for something to eat in the trash bins but now the trash bins too have been removed from the city. We must be compassionate towards them, Poovappa added.

While dogs are often referred to as a man’s best friend, these furry creatures also look for a bit of love and affection from us. People like Poovappa would inspire several others to develop compassion towards the strays.