Kerala man missing: Young son and 26 dogs found abandoned in rented Kochi house, rescued by police

Tripunithura: A man residing in a rented house has gone missing, prompting police intervention. His son studying in Class 4 was found and returned safely to relatives by authorities. The man had been caring for 26 hybrid dogs, which were left starving. They were later transferred to a shelter.

The missing individual, Sudheesh S Kumar, had been living near the Thayyattu Devi Temple in Ernakulam’s Thayyattu area. He has been missing since last Sunday. However, it was known to the world only after his son placed a call to the police. By Monday night, officers arrived and reunited the child with family members. However, Sudheesh has not been located despite multiple attempts to reach him by telephone.

The dogs—valued between ₹30,000 and ₹50,000 each—had been bred and sold by Sudheesh, according to neighbours. With their caretaker absent, the starving animals began barking incessantly, causing distress for nearby households.

Upon learning of the situation, T K Sajeeb, the district secretary of SPCA (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals), visited the site to provide food and water to the dogs. Concerned residents lodged a complaint with the Tripunithura Municipality, requesting immediate removal of the animals. The authorities issued a notice to the owner, and on Wednesday, the dogs were transferred to a shelter in Kochi’s Kandakkadav area by police.