College St neighbourhood comes together to provide home for strays in Kolkata

KOLKATA: A beautifully decorated yellow-coloured dog house with names of the mother and four puppies has found a permanent place at the side of Heramba Das Lane near College Street Bata. The locals of the area came together to build the house, which they call a ‘labour of love’ for their beloved Bholu and her four puppies — Kuttush, Kiki, Coco and Pogo.While some arranged cardboards and colour, others have given a quilt, light, and curtains for the home. The local kids also took an active part in colouring and designing the shelter.
“Almost a year ago Bholu came to our locality as a puppy from elsewhere and gradually became ‘everyone’s favourite’. So it was a joyous moment for the para when she gave birth to four puppies on January 18,” said Debasmita Dey, a dog lover who takes care of Bholu’s vaccination and provides her food day and night. She recalled the times when a few people in the neighbourhood used to beat Bholu when she was new to the area. However, there’s “a positive change”as everyone now loves, cares, feeds and enquires about Bholu. “She has strengthened the bond between neighbours as our lives now revolve around Bholu and her puppies. We communicate much more, coordinate among ourselves to make sure that they are comfortable and protected,” says Dey.
Though the idea was conceived by Dey, who started by making cardboard boxes, it was the kids of the locality, Adrika Roy and Charu Shahu, who were hands-on with their creative ideas to make an attractive, cosy home for Bholu and her puppies, along with help from seniors. “I have decorated her home just like I would have decorated mine. It feels good when every passer-by halts at the spot and appreciates our effort,” said Charu, a Class-X student of Welland Gouldsmith School. Adrika Roy, a Class-X student of Holy Child Girls’ High School, says, “We need to be compassionate towards street dogs as they are more discriminated than pedigree dogs. They, too, have the right to live a healthy life.”
Dey will ensure that the puppies are vaccinated, too. “I plan to put the puppies up for adoption and will also sterilise Bholu once the puppies stop being dependent on their mother’s milk,” said Dey.