Rajani Shetty is a middle-class woman, but yet a popular name in Bilalbagh, Mangaluru for her groundbreaking work in rescuing stray dogs and other vulnerable animals. She is engaged in this noble cause since the last 22 years.
It all started when Rajani saw a cuple of stray dogs surrounded by dirt and feeding on paper outside a shop. She felt very bad for them and decided to take care of these cannines all by herself.
Rajani Shetty, a domestic help from Mangalore, cooks food for hundreds of stray animals, and also climbs down wells like to rescue them. She has treated and nurtured several street dogs which were injured, helpless, and handicapped.
Hats off to her amazing Seva 🙏🏼 pic.twitter.com/FIicO9n3CB— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) November 30, 2021
Each day, she cooks 60 kg of rice mixed with chicken waste to feed about 800 dogs and cats on the streets of Mangaluru. When chicken waste isn’t available, she cooks rice mixed with milk and egg. Starting her day at 5.30 am, she and one of her daughters hop on a two-wheeler and go around the city feeding the animals. They repeat it between 9.30 am and 1 pm.
Rajani Shetty and her daughter Shwetha feeding stray dogs in Mangaluru
Credits: New Indian Express
The kind-hearted soul has so far rescued over 2,000 birds and animals. Married to Damodar Shetty, the couple has two daughters Shwetha and Rithika, and a son named Prathik.
During the first Covid-induced lockdown in 2020, a video of Rajani climbing down into a well by tying a rope to her waist to rescue a dog, went viral. Recently, she climbed down another well, which was 42-foot deep, and rescued a lactating dog.
Credits: Mangalorean
In March this year, Ms. Rajani won the ‘International Women’s Day Award’ In Delhi By The Delhi Commission For Women, Undertaken by the Government Of India. On receiving the award she said, “The commission also paid for my flight and my accommodation… I feel proud to be recognised from Karnataka. I am grateful to my family and supporters. There is no substitute for hard work, and it always pays.”
There is good in the world and this is one such goodness.
Rajani Shetty from Mangalore went down a well saved a stray dog trapped in there. More power to her ♥🙏 pic.twitter.com/QOUePuKxAf
— Maya (@Sharanyashettyy) January 31, 2020
Apart from her family, those who are now assisting Rajani in her mission, include Mangaluru City South MLA Vedvyas Kamath, Ms. Deepa of Fieldstar Hypermarket, Arjun Bhandarkar of Life Charitable Trust, and Uday Poojary of Biruver Kudla.
The First Look Poster Of the film " *SHRUTHI 3323* " Officially Launch by *rajani shetty* ( Animal Rescuer) … ✌️🎉
On Thursday 14th July 2022 @ 5:30 pm..Stay Tuned……. pic.twitter.com/RKAxgYvU9W
— Arvin lobo (@NameIsArvinlobo) July 12, 2022
Mangaluru-based NGO Animal Care Trust helps sterilise Rajani’s animals. These stray animals are treated at a clinic run by Dr. Yashaswi Naravi, a veterinary doctor at Kulshekar, and the Government Veterinary Hospital on Jail Road.
“My dream is to build a veterinary hospital that will offer round-the-clock service,” Rajani said. I conclude this article by wishing her all luck in her humanitarian mission.
Thank you.
Featured Image Source: Book of Achievers
