Simba, Brownie, Bruno: Three dogs guarding their master during fishing trips

KOCHI: If Vinod takes the oars, Brownie and Bruno will sit on the front of the boat and Simba will sit behind. Then they will be on the boat until dawn. They are bodyguards who save their master from otter attacks while fishing in the backwaters. This has been the norm for years.

Vinod, a 42-year-old native of Mulavukad, began a rare friendship with dogs when he was in seventh grade. At that time, he bought a local breed and raised it. When it died of old age, he bought another one. Vinod turned to fishing at the age of 16. The dog that was with him went as far as the riverbank, but did not get on the boat. When the 13-year-old dog bid adieu to the world, Vinod bought Simba, a Labrador cross, Brownie, a Pomeranian, and Bruno, a local breed.

When the dogs were very young, Vinod used to take the three of them in a boat and take them around the lake. Once, when a pack of otters turned towards Vinod, the three barked and chased them away. Since then, they have been guarding Vinod while he was fishing. He fishes from midnight to dawn. The dogs do not have chains, and they do not harm anyone. The family and the locals love the dogs, which are close to everyone. Vinod's wife Sebitha is the one who feeds the three. The three of them are the best friends of their children, Krish Maria and Adam Luke.

'The three of them are ready to provide protection by escorting my children to the school bus. They also like to travel by scooter.'

-M.J. Vinod