Dogged determination

A south Kolkata resident,Susmita Lahiri is a busy housewife,feeding around 200 stray dogs every day.

A south Kolkata resident,Susmita Lahiri is a busy housewife,feeding around 200 stray dogs every day. It started off in 1999 when my daughter brought in a Labrador. The way the dog mingled with us,I had no option but to fall in love with it. Later I noticed that most dogs in the locality responded to love in a similar manner. Some of them were malnourished,so I decided to feed them biscuits. The dogs followed me whenever I was out and their number started growing. I soon realised feeding them biscuits was not the solution,I started cooking for them and fed them every day, said Susmita.

She used to stay in a government apartment in Jodhpur Park with her government employee husband. Later,they shifted to their own house in Lake Gardens. I found some new stray dogs here to feed but couldnt let go of the old ones too. The number kept rising and today we provide food to 200 stray dogs, she said.

For any one who visits 162/B/392 Lake Gardens around 8 am any day,it would seem that a preparation for a feast is on. Rice around 17 kg with chicken liver is being cooked in huge pots put up on ovens. The meal is fed to dogs at Jodhpur Park,Dhakuria Lake and Lake Gardens.

Susmita has employed three persons for helping her out. They help me cook and carry the pots to the three destinations.

My husband had been very supportive. My daughter and her friend who are in Bangalore now also chip in, she said and added that her husband,a business consultant,despite his busy schedule,not only provided her with the major part of the required finance but also helps her in cooking in the morning. I spend Rs 25,000 a month. My husband gives me Rs 20,000 and my daughter and her friend sends Rs 5,000, she said.

Not only that as many as seven stray dogs along with three Labradors had found refuge inside their residence. Now only one Labrador and two street dogs remain,the others have died, Susmita said.

Looking at her initiative and sustained effort,the KMCs animal welfare department decided to include Susmita in their drive to vaccinate stray dogs. I have been working with them for some years now,in their drive to vaccinate the dogs of this ward, she said.

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