Homeless couple cares for 7 dogs, 4 cats

Barely able to afford a roof over their head and enough food to meet their daily needs, 41-yearold Sivakumar Murugan and his wife - who is hearing-impaired- have made the footpath their home. 

However, that hasn’t stopped them from adopting 10 dogs – three of which died -and four cats (all stray) and looking after them like their own kids. 

Sitting in front of the tiny tent they call their home, Murugan – who rides a fish cart - and Kuppama – who cleans houses for a living - were surrounded by the dogs, as the cats sat watching them from atop a wall. 

Referring to them as his children, he said he will always ensure that Karuppu, Kuttikaruppu, Ram, Siruthai, Mutthu, Johnny and the others are cared for. “From whatever little we earn, we take care of them. We struggle but ensure they are fed and taken care of,” said Murugan. 

Kuppama, who is his second wife, was the one who loved animals. “I have a daughter, but she is separated from us. She does not like animals and does not come to visit us at all,” he added. 

“I will do anything for them, even if it is fighting with people who object to their presence,” Murugan said and added that they are comfortable on the footpath with “our children,” than paying exorbitant advance and rent for a home. 

“Together, we barely make Rs 10,000 a month, of which more than 60 per cent goes into taking care of ‘our children,’ he noted.