Industrialist Kochouseph announces Rs 5 lakh reward to anti-street dog crusader OM Joy

KOCHI: Industrialist and philanthropist Kochouseph Chi-ttilappilly has declared a reward of Rs 5 lakh for social worker and president of ‘Theruvunaya Un-moolana Sangham’ (Foru-m to Eradicate Street Do-gs) O.M. Joy for his efforts to end the social menace of street dogs that pose a threat to human life.

“Rabid dogs are one of the biggest social menaces. The death caused to a human being due to this is one of the most painful deaths. If you watch a video of it you will be able to see for yourself. So the threat posed by street dogs is huge. People like Joy are stepping into a domain where governments need to act. But sadly governments are not doing anything,” Mr Kochouseph told DC.

He said that his move to reward Joy would not invite any legal proceedings. “Joy is there not to kill street dogs. He works to rehabilitate them. We should make sure that street dogs do not multiply. I am not sa-ying that they should be killed,” said Mr Kochouseph.

Mr Kochouseph said that Mr Joy had done commendable work in Ayavana panchayat in Ernakulam district. “He is in the process of rehabilitating around 100 street dogs from the panchayat to Coimbatore with the help of an NGO there,” said Mr Kochouseph.