Padmavathy and Narasimha Murthy, an elderly couple living in Santhoshapuram have been rescuing stray animals since 1999. . They were running a voluntary organisation called Animal Welfare and Protection Trust, whose building housed many animals until recently when it was demolished for highway work.
“We managed to find people who adopted most of the puppies and kittens. Those left behind, live with us at our house,” says Padmavathy.
The elderly couple are now finding it difficult to care for these animals as their health doesn’t allow them to run around.
“We are old now and these animals require a lot of care. We receive a little amount from the State government but that is not enough. We have to spend from our own pocket for their food and medicine.
Earlier, we drove to places to rescue animals but due to health constraints, we are unable to do so now. Hiring a driver for a day can be an expensive affair. We end up riding in autos, which is very uncomfortable,” she says.
Currently, they have 12 kittens, 20 cats and around 20 puppies at their house. They do have the support of like-minded animal lovers. However, they want more volunteers, who could help them financially and be present physically, when needed. “The mind set has changed.
There are more people who adopt and feed the stray dogs of their area. Still, there are people who consider street dogs as menace. Actually, they are not. Residents should adopt the stray animals of the area they love. They should not just feed them but get birth control surgeries done for these animals,” they say.
Those who want to adopt, help or volunteer, can visit http://awptrust.org/.
