Making INR 150 A Day Rag-Picking, This Woman Looks After 400 Stray Dogs In Delhi [Watch]

If you’ve been around the Community Centre in Saket, New Delhi, where the popular PVR Anupam is located, chances are you’ve come across a woman walking around with a following of what seems like hundreds of stray dogs--the pied piper of strays, if you will. This lady is Pratima Devi, hailed as the ‘Dog Lady of New Delhi’ who cares for close to 400 stray dogs in the neighbourhood out of which over 120 live with her in her small shanty. Despite making only about Rs.150 a day from rag-picking and running her tea stall, Pratima Devi not only buys 12 kilos of rice, 5 kilos of meat and 10 litres of milk to feed her dogs every day, but also bathes them, and makes sure they’re clean and vaccinated.

With three grown up children, Pratima Devi left a bad marriage behind and now lives happy surrounded by her furry kids. “I am very happy with the dogs. I was not happy with my husband. I had three kids and my husband used to fight with me every day; we were very poor.  I used to work all day and run the house. My husband didn’t work,” she tells Barcroft.  “My children call me and tell me they’ll take me back to the village with them but I don’t listen. I did a lot for my children. Now, I want to good for the dogs.”

Video posted with permission from Barcroft Media

She’s been getting assistance in caring from the dogs by 18-year-old Vivek who lives close by and shares her love and dedication for animals. “In the morning, we get up at 6am and feed the dogs milk. At around 12 pm we give them food with milk and at around 11pm we give them dinner...I love dogs, that’s why I try to be with them most of the time and help them and care for them,” he tells Barcroft.

Pratima Devi gets help from good samaritans who have donated milk, bread and some money towards her cause, but as she gets older she worries about their future and wellbeing. “The way I feed them, and care for them, after me who will take care of them? People back off after seeing a dog. I want a good human to take care of them after my death,” she tells Barcroft and hopes local NGOs and shelters will step in when the time comes, and even help her getting the dogs neutered. “There dogs are like my own children. I bring them home and take care of them. Some of them have been abandoned by owners or have been in road accidents. They are alive with me.”

Click here to read the full article by Barcroft