Elderly Chennai Couple Mortgage Their Home, Turn It Into An Animal Shelter To Save Lives

Meet good Samaritans C. Padmavathy and C. Narsimhamoorthy. A retired couple based in Chennai, they mortgaged their home so that they could provide a roof to the homeless animals of the city.

"I will save them till my last breath," said Padmavathy, who is 70 years old. Along with her 80-year-old husband, she has been taking care of stray animals for twenty years.

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After witnessing the brutal killings of stray animals by Chennai's corporation back in 1998, the retired couple decided to set up an animal shelter out of compassion and love for the hapless souls.

"In 1998, when we came to Santhoshapuram after my husband¡¯s retirement, we witnessed the brutal killings of homeless stray dogs by Chennai¡¯s corporation. They were being electrocuted or were being beaten to death because the residents didn¡¯t want to deal with their increasing population," said Padmavathy, reports The News Minute.

AWPT

The couple set up a registered NGO by the name of Animal Welfare and Protection Trust (AWPT) which upholds animal rights and looks after their welfare.

AWPT also runs a medical center with three doctors who are as passionate about the animals as Padmavathy and Narsimhamoorthy. Apart from giving medical attention to the animals, they also rescue strays that have been subjects of abuse and abandonment.

Currently, the shelter houses 85 dogs, 42 puppies, 11 newborn kittens and 35 cats.

AWPT

The initiative saw government support initially but it ended all of a sudden and no amount of talks with the officials could kick-start that channel again. Donations started pouring in but the initiative was started by the couple with their own money.

AWPT

Now, they have over 25 lakh rupees in debt, especially after mortgaging their home.

The couple has now started an online campaign Milaap to raise funds that will help them continue their humanitarian work. Private investments are a big no as they only see "everything as a business".

Milaap

"I don¡¯t want my family (the animals) to be their victims," said Padmavathy. "I will save them till my last breath. No one should be motherless. The almighty God will show us some way to get through this, even if the online petition fails."

Hats off to this couple whose kindness knows no bounds. We all can learn a little something from them, and make this world a better place for animals who have no home.