Mangaluru: “The love we have for our pets is truly priceless,” Ganesh Kera, a businessman from Polya in Puttur, said while handing over a cheque of Rs 50,000 to the saviour of his pet dog, Chinnu.The four-year-old Chinnu was so adorable that everyone in Kera’s house looked after her as a family member. “It was indeed a shock for us when we found Chinnu missing about 25 days ago. We searched everywhere in our village and neighborhood. We also offered prayers to deities for Chinnu’s safe return,” Kera told TOI.In fact, Kera, a dog lover, keeps 30 dogs of various breeds at his home. Among them, Chinnu, a local breed dog, had lost the use of its legs due to fits. After Chinnu went missing, Ganesh shared information on social media and put up banners with information about the dog in various parts of Puttur. He also announced the reward of Rs 50,000 to anyone who found the dog or provided clues.Purandara, who is also from the Polya area, found Chinnu and handed the pet to Kera. As promised, Kera gave the Rs 50,000 reward cheque to Purandara on Sunday.Sharing his happiness, Kera said, “Chinnu has reached our home. I invited Purandara to my house and presented him with the cheque. The missing dog was wandering within a 2-km radius of my house. In fact, Purandara had spotted the dog three days after it went missing. Although he informed me immediately, the dog was not found that day. Later, Chinnu caught Purandara’s eye again. He caught her right there and handed her over to me.”Ganesh, who treats stray dogs found on the roadside, had found Chinnu in the same way. He had brought Chinnu home and raised her after she was injured in a road accident. “Four years ago, I found the puppy by the side of the road. I brought her home and provided the necessary treatment. Later, we called her Chinnu. After two years, Chinnu developed a seizure disorder, and we have been providing her treatment,” he added.
