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Journalism of Courage
Even as Bengaluru makes headlines for traffic snarls and language spats, a kinder side of the city is winning hearts.
In JP Nagar’s Dollars Colony, right behind Clarence Public School, there’s a wall that tells a story of love and loss. Carved into the stone is the face of Pikachu, not the Pokémon, but a beloved stray dog who once roamed the neighbourhood. Locals remember him fondly, and around the stone tribute are hand-written messages that show just how deeply he was cherished.
The memorial was recently spotlighted by Nithin Kumar, a city resident, who made an X post saying, “Walk behind Clarence Public School and you’ll spot something special.” His post quickly resonated with Bengalureans online, especially as it coincided with a major new initiative for the city’s street dogs.
Earlier this week, BBMP announced a daily feeding programme for nearly 5,000 strays across the city. On the menu was warm meals like chicken rice, egg rice, and veggies, carefully planned to offer at least 750 calories per dog. More than 100 feeding stations will also provide clean drinking water, with the goal of not just feeding but improving safety: well-fed dogs are less likely to be aggressive.
Online reactions poured in, many touched by the Pikachu tribute. One user commented, “Very happy to see that our dearest Pikachu is warming the hearts of so many people! We love him and miss him so much that we created this little shrine for him.”
Others raised questions about the execution of the feeding plan. “Don’t know if they really feed the stray dogs or some middle men and politician loot tax money of hard working people?” wrote one commenter. Another said, “Nice gesture. Would be really helpful for the dogs and commune to have ‘dog shelter’ so proper care is given and there are ‘no’ stray dogs in the street etc. Solving the root cause will be helpful.”
