In what can be termed as a rare reunion, a group of like-minded people in Maddur spent nearly Rs. 1 lakh to trace two stray dogs that were reportedly caught and released in the forest area by the Maddur Town Municipal Council.
The Maddur TMC had conducted a drive against stray dogs in Maddur two weeks ago. The dog catchers, hired by the civic authority, caught hundreds of dogs and released them in the Muthathi forest area that falls under the Cauvery Wildlife Zone.
Among the dogs that were released in the forest were Bhaira and Kencha. While Bhaira was the pet for residents of Kote Beedhi, shopkeepers near old bus-stand were emotionally attached to Kencha. According to the shopkeepers, no one realised that the dog catchers had captured the two dogs, until it was too late.
A group of local people conducted a search near the border areas of Muthathi forest, a home to leopards, elephants and other wild animals.
They pooled in around Rs. 1 lakh to trace the dogs. They also announced a cash reward of Rs. 25,000 to those who could provide information about the dogs. The shopkeepers also distributed photos and relevant details of the two dogs in several villages along the forest border requesting them to help trace the dogs.
It was an arduous task, but a continuous search for 15 days bore fruit on Tuesday night.
They brought the animals back on Wednesday and they celebrated the reunion with the dogs by bursting crackers and distributing sweets.
The former TAPCMS president Krishna alias Auto Krishna, Ramachandra, Balakrishna, Somashekar and others were part of the group that traced the dogs.
