New Delhi: The Yamuna expressway is full of various makeshift vehicles, rickshaws and trucks, as several migrant workers continue their journey home due to the nationwide lockdown.
One among them is Santosh Kumar and his family, which comprises his wife, brother, two sons and his nephew. However, what marks this family apart is the seventh member — two-year-old ‘Mr Tommy’.
Kumar was a street vendor in Panipat in Haryana and sold golgappas and tikkis for a living. However, his business came to a halt due to the nationwide lockdown announced on 24 March.
With no means of survival, his family decided to undertake a 700-km journey from Panipat back to their native village in Bundelkhand, Uttar Pradesh.
It was in Panipat that Kumar and his family adopted Mr Tommy, a street dog, in 2018, when he was 40 days old.
“His mother had delivered a litter of puppies and he (Mr Tommy) used to keep coming to our house and nibbled on food and drank water. Since then he has become part of our family and we adopted him,” explained Kumar, who specifically mentioned the dog’s name was Mr Tommy and “not just Tommy”.
A greyish brown dog — resembling an Alsatian — Mr Tommy is fairly large for a two-year-old mongrel. Extremely protective of his family members, he barks at anyone who comes close or speaks to Kumar and the rest of his family.
“There was no way I could leave him behind in Panipat, if I did he would start biting people there,” said Kumar.
Also read: Of course the migrant labourers will go back home, for that is where their lives are: Gulzar
Mr Tommy’s journey to Bundelkhand
In a cart attached to a motorbike, Kumar and his family left for Bundelkhand from Panipat Friday evening at 11 pm.
“We hope to reach Bundelkhand by 3-4 am Sunday morning,” said Kumar. ThePrint followed up with them and learnt that the family had reached Bundelkhand Sunday morning.
Kumar was driving the motorbike-cart, his brother and nephew were sitting on the cart with Mr Tommy, while his wife and sons drove ahead on another bike.
“Someone gave us food on the way so we are managing. We had also packed rotis for Mr Tommy and will see if we can find milk or curd on the way for him,” he said.
They also stopped every hour and poured water into a utensil for Mr Tommy to drink.
Kumar had left Bundelkhand, along with his family, in 2015. Now, five years later — they are returning with a new family member.
Also read: Walk, play, train — how dog parents are keeping pets happy, engaged and safe in lockdown
Please please share the family’s details or contact no. I would like to help.
What a beautiful story. Mr. Tommy is so handsome. The family are doing a great job in terms of nurturing life and their dedication is awe inspiring. Wish more people would learn from them.
Is it possible to have the family’s details as will like to send a present for Mr Tommy
Thanks
Yes, I would too like to send gifts for Tommy from my pet store. Please share his contact details
Thank you for writing in and expressing an interest to help. Do send us your email ID at marketing@theprint.in and we will send you the details.
I thought Mr Tomi is the jugaad they adopted in Panipat. hpHere it’s a sensation. A pet dog, even a rescew street dog would likely not earn an article…