Animal Stories: Woman's Best Friend

This is Chhotu. Chhotu lives in the eastern Indian state of Bihar. He was picked up off the street by a kind lady named Janaki Devi. When Janaki Devi died, six months ago, Chhotu was adopted by her daughter, Rajkumari Devi.

Unfortunately, Chhotu has a rap sheet. Auntie Beeb says:

The dog, named Chhotu, has been in trouble with the law before. In 2003, a magistrate sentenced Chhotu to death.

Neighbours complained he had gone mad and bitten several people. But animal rights activists managed to get the decision reversed.

Chhotu's back in court on multiple biting charges. His hoomin, Rajkumari Devi, says he's only trying to protect her, as her neighbours have tried to break into her house to steal the deed to her property.

Rajkumari Devi on the right

And, indeed, at his recent court appearance, Chhotu was the very model of propriety. Says his lawyer:

"Despite the presence of so many people in the courtroom the dog did not bite or bark at anyone," the canine's lawyer Dilip Kumar Deepak said in defence of his client.

Chhotu and his hoomin have another date in court on August 5. Let's hope, for both of their sakes, that they win their case.

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