This Machine Dispenses Dog Food For Plastic Bottles. Paytm CEO Wants To Fund The Initiative

Paytm founder and CEO Vijay Shekhar Sharma has expressed interest in funding an initiative that helps stray dogs. Not just that it also helps recycle used plastic bottles. Last week, he reshared a post about a vending machine system in Istanbul that dispenses food for stray dogs every time someone deposits a plastic bottle or a metal can into the machine. Impressed with this idea, Vijay Shekhar Sharma wrote, “I would love to fund this, and need some champion of change.”

Commenting on this post, an X user suggested the Paytm founder another way of helping stray dogs and wrote, “There’s a lady in Ghaziabad who’s feeding and taking care (health, injuries) of 100s of dogs. She would benefit from the tech and funding greatly. Happy to connect you/your investment team to her.”

Another person commented, “It’s amazing how a simple act of recycling can make such a big difference in the lives of these animals. Imagine if every city adopted this approach—what a difference we could make!”

Someone else encouraged him and remarked, “Please take the initiative. Animal lovers will come forward and support us financially. But someone like you can kick start with healthy publicity to make each & every one aware.”

Many people also criticised Sharma, saying the increasing stray dog population was posing a threat to people. Making this point, an X user wrote “Also keep funds for treatment of kids and elders who will be attacked by these stray dogs. Citizens pay road tax for usage, not making them a feeding ground for stray dogs.”

Someone else argued, “You fund the stray animals and they will fund rabies vaccine makers and doctors. Why should we have stray animals at first? I don’t see any in developed countries.”

The vending machine shown in Vijay Shekhar Sharma’s post is made by a Turkey-based company. It is called Pugedon’s Smart Recycling Boxes. When someone drops a bottle or metal can into the machine slot, the machine dispenses dry food in a food dish at the bottom, which is accessible to the animals. This machine runs on solar power. The dog food is paid for by the profits from the recycled bottles and cans.

Engin Girgin, the inventor of the vending machine, told Der Spiegel, “My primary goal was to make people see that they don’t have to spend any money to help stray dogs. And I also wanted to show that people can do good deeds with things they would normally throw away.”