Homeless couple assists animal lover in taking care of stray dogs in South Mumbai

A homeless couple has become an integral part of South Mumbai’s animal welfare activists’ lives, fostering at least seven to eight abandoned, ill and injured animals right outside the Marine Lines railway station.

Krishna and his wife — known simply as ‘Anna’ and ‘Anni’ by local animal welfare workers — have lived on the footpath for around seven years.

The duo is helped by Farida Baja, an animal lover and resident of Marine Lines, in looking after the animals.

Baja, who has been working for animals for the last 17 years, had enlisted the couple’s help to care for stray animals in the city six years ago.

“Once I was passing by, when I saw that Anna’s dog was wounded, and the wound had festered into a severe maggot infestation. I nursed it back to health. Ever since then, Anna has been my second-in-command,” said Baja. “He used to be engaged in filling water tanks, but he lost that job. So now, I pay him for looking after needy strays, and also provide meals for him and Anni,” she added.

Baja and her team cover the area from Colaba to Walkeshwar to Crawford Market. “We feed all the stray dogs in these areas. If they are in need of medical treatment, we get in touch with NGOs in the area. When sterilisation is needed, the dogs are taken away but then dropped off in the same place,” Baja explained.

Currently, seven dogs are living with Anna and Anni on the footpath. “Three of these dogs were tied here by someone who left a note saying they can’t take care of the dogs anymore. The rest are sick dogs who were rescued from shelters that were being negligent,” said Baja.

Although there have been instances of adoptions of stray dogs straight from the footpath, Baja said most times they stay with Anna long after they become healthy.

Baja’s cause is supported by some locals who are willing to help out. “A local homeopathy doctor, Dr Farukh, agreed to provide a room for us to cook food for the dogs for free. So for the last two months, the food is being made there and then delivered,” Baja said. She also testifies of unknown helpers who leave blankets, raincoats, pedigree, etc on the footpath.

Authorities like the police and the local bodies, on their part, do not bother the couple and their dogs anymore.

“Anna has not built any kind of structure for himself, so they are not bothered. Still, on occasions like January 26, they are asked to leave. Sometimes, they are even asked for money by sweepers, etc,” said Baja.

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