How a Chennai bar and its patrons came together to save the life of a dog

If you stop by The Velveteen Rabbit—a popular restobar in Chennai—for a drink after work or karaoke night, you’d first have to say hello to the in-house pupper Jack Daniels, or JD as he’s fondly called, and get kissed on the face.

In less than two years since he was adopted by the bar, JD had become nothing short of a cool mascot, urging people to spend a few minutes with him at the porch, before entering the snug little watering hole in the bustling neighbourhood of RA Puram. 

So, when the two-year-old indie was run over by a speeding vehicle in November last year and suffered multiple fractures, patrons of the restobar didn’t think twice before rallying together to save his life and help him get back on his feet. 

Over the next three months, around 35 people—many of them regulars at the bar—raised money to pay for JD’s treatment and recovery in the safety of a shelter that specialises in the care of disabled canines.  

On the night of the accident, Professor Sindhuja Sankaran was stepping out of The Velveteen Rabbit to head back home with her friend when she heard JD howling in pain. She also noticed a few other dogs chasing a car. 

“JD was limping when we found him. We started calling different veterinarians. Finally, someone from SKS Veterinary Hospital arrived at the bar with a muzzle, and, after much effort, we managed to put it on him so he could be transported in the car,” she narrates.  

JD was later taken to a clinic for treatment, where Sankaran and her friends learned that the only course of action was surgery. 

JD’s forelimb was fractured and fragmented; he also had a fracture in his lumbar region and was in extreme pain. He was not eating when he was brought in and had to be administered pain medication, says Dr Vijay at The Ark Veterinary Clinic. 

Sankaran, along with another Velveteen regular Krishna Ram and karaoke artist Mridula Gopalakrishnan, immediately started a crowdfunding campaign to raise money for JD’s treatment and stay at the clinic. 

“Donations poured in, with close to 35 people contributing. Regulars at Velveteen Rabbit reached out to me, inquiring about JD’s health and expressing their desire to donate to the cause. People were extremely generous and genuinely concerned,” says Sankaran.

Overall, they raised close to Rs 60,000, while The Velveteen Rabbit’s management pitched in with Rs 15,000. 

Sharath (name changed for anonymity), an architect who lives across the bar, donated the largest sum of Rs 30,000. In fact, this was the second time he had come to JD’s rescue. 

Two years ago, the dog had taken refuge at Sharath’s home after being injured by a speeding vehicle. Sharath handed over JD to The Velveteen Rabbit, which then became the dog’s guardian. 

“Some of the donors are acquaintances who came to Velveteen Rabbit and became part of my karaoke community,” says Gopalakrishnan. 

“JD is our conversation starter and a link to joining our little community of patrons, music lovers, and bathroom singers,” she says.

Need for communities

JD’s story puts the spotlight on the need for community efforts towards creating a caring environment for animals. 

Public places like cafés and bars are ideal spaces where communities can be built over a common interest—be it music, art, food, books, or even love for animals.  

“People meet here to share what they normally don’t, even with friends. I feel the camaraderie and friendships in these communities can be tapped into for the cause of animals too,” says Neelam Pant, an animal lover and rescuer.

People who contributed to save the life of JD are now talking about setting up a charity box for street animals or a QR code for donations to an animal welfare organisation—to be put up at bars, cafés and libraries. 

“Two of the biggest challenges for a rescuer are funds and space to help animals in need of care. Working on building a community to support these operations on the ground is perhaps one of the best ways to ensure that we create a compassionate and just world for our furry friends,” says Gopalakrishnan.

Lack of sensitisation and awareness

Apart from community building, there is also a need to implement the legal provisions that protect animals. 

Under Section 11 of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act (PCA) 1960, a penalty of Rs 10 to Rs 50 and a maximum imprisonment of up to three months is imposed on all acts of cruelty against animals, including beating, kicking, torturing, starving and mutilation. Hit-and-run cases are also lodged under the same section of PCA, but the process of seeking justice is arduous. 

The Centre has been working on a proposal to introduce 61 amendments in the PCA to increase severity of punishments for crimes of “gruesome cruelty”, including bestiality. 

Advocate Prakashganth, who works at the Madras High Court, says registering animal cruelty cases with the police, lodging FIRs, and taking the case to court is challenging, since most police personnel—especially junior officials—have little sensitivity and awareness of animal welfare laws. 

“In cases of hit-and-run, this process becomes only harder,” says Prakashganth. “This is because the offender is mostly unknown and speeds away, making it difficult to acquire any information about them, including the vehicle number.” 

Last year, Prakashganth tracked down a man who had run over two puppies in the neighbourhood of Anna Nagar in Chennai, after checking CCTV footage from multiple shops and traffic signals. He was let go after a warning.

“But putting in this kind of effort isn’t easy for a common man. It takes a great deal of persistence and following up with the police, many of who are swamped with cases to give attention to animal cruelty,” he says.    

Protection of animals is enshrined as a fundamental duty in the Indian Constitution. But the reality is far removed from that. 

A report by the Federation of Indian Animal Protection Organisations and All Creatures Great and Small says nearly 5 lakh cases of animal cruelty, including hit-and-run cases, were reported in India between 2010 and 2020. Animal welfare activists say unreported cases may run into thousands.

According to data released by the Nagpur Municipal Corporation’s veterinary department in 2019, close to 12,000 stray animals including dogs, cat, cattle and goats, were injured in road accidents in different parts of the city from 2012 to 2019. Of the 480 animal cruelty cases recorded in Mumbai at the beginning of 2021, 266 were accidents and hit-and-run cases.

India was rated ‘C’ on the Animal Protection Index released in 2020, alongside Spain, France, Germany, and Poland. The index ranks countries on a scale of A (highest) to G (weakest), according to their policy and legislation.

Stringent implementation of laws, adequate funds, sensitisation, and supportive communities are all key requisites in ensuring the protection of animals and making the world safer for them.