Cops treat 4-legged ‘violators’ on Chennai roads with love

From feeding strays to attending to injured dogs, a number of police personnel have taken to caring for the animals during the pandemic.

G Subbulakshmi, Deputy Commissioner (Washermenpet), is busy all-day handling police work in one of the hotspots of north Chennai. But her day doesn’t end without feeding strays near Anna Nagar for the past four months. “After the lockdown, the strays did not get enough food and that’s how I started feeding them. Now, they wait for me and run towards the car when I park near Anna Square,” the officer said. Buying bread packets and biscuits has also become a part of her routine.

Inspector Ravikumar (Tiruvallur town) has rescued 35 stray dogs who were either injured or had been infected, with help from his colleagues and volunteers during the lockdown. “In every police station, there will be two strays taken care of by the police, so it is natural for us to be compassionate towards them. They are permanent members of the station,” the inspector said. Thanks to his timely intervention, most of the dogs have recovered completely.

“With nobody getting out of their homes, strays had become our lone companions on the street,” said Seetharaman, Inspector (Crime Wing, Triplicane). “Besides, they could not find food anywhere due to less public movement and closure of eateries. So, naturally, we had to step in,” he said.