Lutchmin Ramdeo, 73, smiles as she feeds the stray dogs and pigeons at an open yard at the end of Perseverence Road in Chaguanas, next to one of WASA's compound.
For just over a half-century, it has become something of a daily ritual for Ramdeo, who now become well known by motorists and other commuters as she sets out every day at 6 am and every evening as the sun sets to feed the animals.
Ramdeo said she never realised how popular and admired she was among the people. "Everywhere I go people tell me, aye you're the woman who does feed the dogs and birds. I does just laugh."
Asked why she has taken on this role, the humble and shy woman said, "This is not a burden you know, this is a blessing and I believe that I have gotten plenty of blessings for taking care of the stray dogs and the pigeons.
"You know how many dogs I have here?" she asked. There are more than a dozen dogs and their young ones.
"They are my own. The animals pray for me, I am sure."
She said she wakes up every day at 3 am to cook for the dogs, the pigeons and her grandchildren. "I accustomed to getting up early, in my working years I had to get up and go early in Port-of-Spain where I worked in Sanitation. Since those days people know me for feeding the animals. I don't receive a pension but I spend lots of money to buy food for the dogs, I don't know how but I survive. I am just blessed."
Ramdeo said her two sons and grandchildren also love to feed the animals on occasions when she is out or not feeling well. "But most times is me out here and I feel so happy and at peace and the dogs and pigeons are happy too. Animals should not be allowed to suffer or go hungry belly. They have life just like us."
She said her wish was to one day see others taking time out of their busy schedules to do the same. "It have blessings in this. Trust me, I'm a living example. When you start to do what I do you will see transformation in your lives."