Kohli, Gayle support campaign for retired army dogs

Virat Kohli, Chris Gayle, Ashwini Ponnappa and several other sportspersons support a campaign that aims to provide good care and shelter for dogs that have served in the special forces.

Virat Kohli plays with a Labrador belonging to the city police's dog squad during a practice session in Bengaluru.

Indian skipper Virat Kohli, his Royal Challengers Bangalore teammate Chris Gayle, badminton star Ashwini Ponnappa and several other sports stars support a campaign that aims to provide good care and shelter for dogs that have served in the special forces.

In 2015, an RTI query revealed that army dogs were euthanised post-retirement. Supreme Court, then, ordered to end this practice. But very few people want to adopt these dogs after they're done serving the forces till their old age.

 

Rakesh Shukla, a Bengaluru-based software engineer who runs a private non-profit organisation called Voice of Stray Dogs (VOSD), has taken on the challenge to find such ‘Patriot Dogs’ a home in his sanctuary.

VOSD, through the #PatriotDogs campaign, hopes to raise Rs. 25 lakh in a month’s time to build a 10,000 sq. ft. enclosure for these dogs.

“They deserve to retire happily. Help VOSD make it happen,” said Gayle.

"#PatriotDogs serve our country all their lives. They deserve to retire happily," tweeted Ashwini.

I-League champion Bengaluru FC also supports the campaign.

 

To contribute to the campaign, go here .