Dogs in Delhi are getting fed, thanks to Anjali
Each One Feed One feeds and takes care of about 60 dogs in Delhi, and wants to do more.
Anjali Kakati is a dog lover and has managed to convert her family as well. In 2004, her brother Rathin, brought a stray puppy to their South Delhi home. Since then, Sweetie has been a beloved member of the household. “Once you have a pet at home, you start noticing animals on the street,” says 36-year old Anjali, who presently works in business analytics at FIS.
A meal a day
With the support of her family, in 2006, Anjali started feeding dogs of her residential colony at Chittaranjan Park. She did not know how territorial dogs can get and mealtimes would often turn into huge canine brawls. Neighbours objected, so Anjali began to give food to the dogs early in the morning or late in the evening. On the way to her office at Nehru Place, in 2007, she spotted more stray dogs near slums. They, too, found a friend in Anjali. Soon, she would stop to feed dogs en route to her morning exercise at Siri Fort.
In 2010, Anjali registered her initiative. She named it ‘Each One Feed One’.
Dog’s best friend
Anjali used her own car, and hired a driver and an assistant for the daily feeding duties. But, with time, as the number of dogs increased, it became necessary to make the process cost effective. So, in 2016, she bought a delivery scooter, complete with a storage bag in pillion, and hired a man to ride it. She now had one employee to execute the entire distribution process.
Currently, a cook comes every evening to prepare and pack food for the dogs. In the morning, the delivery agent arrives, collects the packages, and sets out on his unique mission. Dogs in around 10 South Delhi locations are fed, and are provided veterinary services when necessary. Anjali herself goes with her delivery person to check up on the dogs four mornings a week. She takes photographs, shoots videos for the initiative’s Facebook page, and also keeps an eye out for ailing dogs who may need treatment. With some cigarette shop owners, along these routes, she has arranged to keep water in bowls for nearby strays.
For now, Anjali feeds dogs in her own locality twice a day and those of distant areas once. But, Each One Feed One is constantly thinking of expanding its reach and care.
“We need 10 bags of rice of 25 kg each, every week. Now that people see our posts on Facebook, we have some regular donors,” Anjali tells me over a telephone chat. It is evident how deeply involved she is with her work. She speaks with ease of the regular process of caring for around 60 street dogs.
Each One Feed One, with its team of seven members, has partnered with Krishna Ashram, an NGO for neglected and ill-treated animals, for canine healthcare. This is being funded by Akriti Kalra of Jamboree Education. Every alternate day, five female dogs are taken in Akriti’s car to Krishna Ashram, where they are provided with a pre-surgery blood test, sterilisation, post-operative check-up, and one shot of anti-rabies vaccination. The cost of the complete medical package for one dog is Rs 2000. Anjali hopes to partner with one more animal welfare organisation so that five dogs can be treated every day.
More than stray
Anjali talks affectionately of Sweetie, who is as loyal as she can be. “Sweetie follows me wherever I go,” she laughs. Soon to turn 13 in October, Sweetie has now ‘matured’, and does not chew slippers like she used to when she was a puppy.
Each One Feed One wants to set up a branch in Guwahati, Assam, where Anjali’s family is originally from. She also wishes to have a small, animal ambulance that will serve a radius of 10-15 km around her locality. She is trying to get as many stray dogs sterilised and healthy as she can, so that their numbers dwindle and they live a healthy lifespan. “We are many thousands of people more than the number of street dogs out there. If each of us takes care of one dog, that is enough. We do not need to do a lot, you know. We just need to do a small bit,” she says in the true spirit of a changemaker.