New Delhi: For almost 50 days, an army of animal rescuers and feeders searched high and low for Kaddu, a community dog they allege was relocated from Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport on 26 March. Little did they know that the only thing that stood between them and her was a 10-ft boundary wall.
On Wednesday, the rescue community breathed a collective sigh of relief after Kaddu was finally found in Shahbad Mohammadpur, a village near Dwarka, located right behind the Delhi airport. The video of Kaddu was shared thousands of times. Even actor Tabu dropped a comment of support.
Brownie, the other dog missing from the airport, is yet to be found. A video of him pinned to the ground with a noose and ropes, had gone viral after he disappeared from his usual spot.
Earlier this month, a Delhi court had heavily criticised the police investigation into the disappearance of the two canines. Finding the inquiry to be lacking “serious efforts”, it directed the Joint Commissioner of Police (Transport Range) to conduct a fresh investigation. The case arose from a complaint filed by social workers alleging relocation and cruelty relating to Kaddu and Brownie. The complaint also cited CCTV footage of the dogs’ capture.
Animal welfare activist Jasmeet Kaur told ThePrint that it was a local feeder named Mohit Lamba who found Kaddu. “Many dog lovers took up the cause of searching for the missing dogs by connecting with fellow feeders in the city. The feeder network suspected the dogs were either moved to a shelter or were abandoned somewhere near the airport.”
“Feeders operating in residential areas near the airport would keep an eye out at their feeding spots, parks and footpaths in their localities, hoping the two might show up,” she added.
When weeks passed with no sightings of Kaddu and Brownie, Lamba decided to get in touch with labourers living near the airport. That is when their search led them to an office on the outskirts of Shahbad Mohammadpur.
“Mohit (Lamba) and his elderly mother were looking for Kaddu in the dead of the night when they found her in the care of guards at the office premises. They told him she had been staying with them for a month. That is when Mohit realised that when he would go on his usual feeding rounds, Kaddu would be inside the office, which is why he never spotted her.”
Within minutes, the video of Kaddu flooded WhatsApp animal rescue groups. Once her identity was confirmed through the missing posters, there were cheers and endless questions about her health and how she was found.
But the most moving moment came when it was time for Kaddu to say goodbye to the office she called home for over 50 days. “The guards who had been feeding her every night for over a month had gotten very attached. When they were told that Kaddu needs to be moved from the office so a permanent home can be found for her, the guards were in tears, they pleaded with Mohit not to take her away from them,” said Kaur.
A home for Kaddu
While the search for Brownie continues, Kaddu will no longer have to return to the streets. She has already been adopted by Senior Advocate Percival Billimoria.
Speaking to ThePrint, Billimoria said that Kaddu will take time to get used to her new home. Having spent almost 12 years of her life as a stray, she prefers to spend time in the house garden than indoors.
“More than the wealthy, it is the poor who take care of street animals. Amongst the wealthy there are not many takers for strays as they prefer exotic dog breeds which cost a lot. Caring for stray animals is something the well-to-do must learn from the poor,” he said.
Karan Parashar is a TPSJ alum, currently interning with ThePrint.
(Edited by Gitanjali Das)
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