It was some time in September last year that Yesupadam, also known as Babu Swami, 60, who runs the ‘Bhairava Ashram’ for rescued dogs at the Rajula Kandriga village of the Nagalapuram mandal in the Chittoor district, received a call from Velachery in Chennai — a Doberman had been found abandoned, tied to a gate in an apartment compound, and brutalised and blinded by miscreants.
Mr. Babu rushed to help and, after a two-hour journey, found a two-year-old female Doberman with bleeding injuries, with both her eyes missing. Locals who found her thought the dog was a new entrant to the apartment.
Attacked by miscreants
Chained for about two days, the dog was attacked by miscreants.
Nobody in the area knew from where the dog had come, and who had chained it there.
Mr. Babu took the unconscious dog to the Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (TANUVAS) at Vepery. It took nearly four months for the canine to recover from her wounds, which included a rib fracture.
A veterinary surgeon, who did not wish to be identified, operated on the Doberman’s eyes, covering the empty sockets and preserving her facial beauty, but without sight. The surgeon named the dog Dobby.
On December 31, the hospital authorities informed Mr. Babu that Dobby was ready for discharge. The happy dog-lover Babu rushed to Chennai.
After completing the formalities, Mr. Babu took Dobby with him and reached his ‘ashram’ close to midnight, with an hour left for the New Year celebrations to begin.
New beginning
On January 1, Dobby joined the New Year celebrations with about 50 other inmates (all rescued dogs) of the ‘ashram’. Finding herself surrounded by so many “friends”, Dobby sniffed them and made noises to express her happiness.
Speaking to The Hindu , Mr. Babu recalled the nightmarish experience he had while rescuing Dobby. “A week after Dobby was admitted to hospital, there was absolutely no hope of her survival. But destiny wanted Dobby to live and see the dawn of the New Year. It is a miracle,” he said.
Dobby, sprinting from corner to corner, found a new friend in Priya, Mr. Babu’s young daughter.
Bhairava Ashram came up five years ago at the foot of Nagalapuram hills. Mr. Babu, his wife Ribka and daughter Priya consider the dogs a part of their family. In fact, the family calls them ‘bhairavas’ instead of ‘dogs’.
In the last five years, the family has rescued several ‘bhairavas in a critical condition, including those with life-threatening diseases. Mr. Babu’s family also keeps a special burial ground, which adjoins the ‘ashram’, for the ‘bhairavas.
Dogs in their care enjoy birthdays (the date on which they join the ‘ashram’), and a grand funeral is accorded when they pass away.
