The inhabitants of Kozhivettumvel in Eroor North, near Kochi, built a statue in memory of Eldo, a beloved street dog who lived in this area for 12 years. Eldho died a month ago. The statue was inaugurated on Monday. | Photo Credit: Thulasi Kakat
Not everyone is immortalized by a statue. But Eldho, a stray dog in Eroor North, which was found dead at a waterpoint in the neighborhood of April this year, was etted into the psyche of people here with their own statue. The fact that it comes at a time when longing dogs were declared a “public enemy” is even more poignant.
Authorickshaw drivers at the local booth, where the dog was found many years ago many years ago, felt that after being an integral part of the community for nearly ten years and a half, their beloved Eldho deserved a statue. So a statue was created in his honor and is now in the process of introducing in the glass cover.
Many memories
They did not stop with it and also planned a commemorative meeting that could take place after Onam. KV Sanakan, an authorickshaw driver who saved Eldo after he was found in 2011 as a puppy, says there are enough memories to guarantee one.
There was almost never an event in a locality where Eldho was not welcome. “Whether it was a marriage, death or celebrations over a newborn, he was always present. He accompanied the children returning home from school or teaching, sitting alongside young people who dealt with written records,” he says.
Eldho was named after the popular character of actor Cochin Haneef from the 1995 movie Mannar Mathai, although no one remembers why. Eldho even has a cake from the local bakery named after him when it became his favorite snack.
“Never hurt anyone”
“I always felt that Eldho had a human soul. He never hurt anyone. Even if you accidentally entered him, he just moved out,” says P. Santhosh, the locals.
Eldho was never hungry when he was assured of bite, no matter which household in the locality he had entered. When he got a piece of meat from the local slaughterhouse, he only ate as much as he wanted, and dug a hole on the ground to save the rest. And the next time he was hungry, he returned and dug it. “This habit of rescue for the next day was another human property Eldo,” recalls Santhosh.
Published – August 19, 2025 17:40
