Usilampatti man owning 100 native dog breeds bags ‘Breed Conservation Award 2022’

MADURAI

Amid lush and sprawling fields that covers the foothills of Puthur Malai in a quaint village in Usilampatti in Madurai district, the barking of a pack of dogs overpowers the chirping birds.

The cacophony means so much to A. Sathish, who owns around 100 indigenous dogs on an acre of dog farm — Dolly’s Kennel — in K. Pothampatti village. “Each bark denotes a different need. The language can only be understood and felt by a dog lover,” he says as a kennel of sleek canines in various shades of brown and a few in white come running towards him wagging their tails.

Interestingly, Sathish caressed and addressed most of them by their names, which included: “China, Japan, Basha, Rukku and Joker.” According to him working as a software engineer in Chennai fills his purse but being with native breed dogs “fulfils his heart”. His love story with indigenous dogs began with a ‘Rajapalayam’ that he owned when he was seven-years-old. It later developed into him taking serious measures to conserve them, and eventually led him to win the ‘Breed Conservation Award 2022’ under the individual category by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research - The National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources, Karnal on December 23.

“I was recognised for my efforts in conserving ‘Chippiparai’, a hound variety native breed of Tamil Nadu,” he says, adding that the application and documentation process were facilitated by Veterinary College and Research Institute, Theni. Noting that native dog breeds are mostly found in south Tamil Nadu, Sathish says ‘Kanni’ and ‘Chippiparai’ are found in Thoothukudi, Tirunelveli and Virudhunagar district, while ‘Kombai’ is native to Kombai village in Theni district. “ ‘Rajapalayam’ and ‘Ramanathapuram Mandai’ goes without saying. No other State has so many indigenous breeds like ours.”

Sathish’s kennel, established three years ago, had its roots from when he began with a pair of dogs in each breed eight years ago at this home. “Losing his Rajapalayam in 2012, the search for an original native breed dog went averse as he was duped with a cross-breed. The search sparked my journey to conserve these dogs,” he recalls.

The kennel currently houses eight males and 22 females in ‘Rajapalayam’ and ‘Kombai’ each, and 10 Ramanathapuram Mandai’ as well as four males and eleven females in ‘Kanni’ and Chippiparai each. Four employees, including three women, tend to them every day.

A ‘Rajapalayam’ puppy, not more than 45 days-old, is sold anywhere between ₹15,000 and ₹20,000. ‘Kombai’ and ‘Ramanathapuram Mandai’ puppies are sold for ₹6,000 and ‘Kanni’ and ‘Chippiparai’ puppies are priced between ₹8,000 and ₹10,000.