My sister Heidi and I are playful, innocent six-month-old puppies who were saved by a lucky stroke of Fate. And we are the tragic by-products of India’s street dog epidemic. Delhi, the national capital of India, is a city teeming with life. Its human population alone stands at 22 million. It is estimated that over 260,000 homeless desi (local/common) street dogs call Delhi home. Although the killing of desi dogs has been prohibited for the past decade, no concurrent comprehensive sterilization programs have been put into place by the government. So the population of desi dogs continues to swell…
Enter our little family. My sister Heidi and I experienced a challenging start to life. Our mother, a street dog in New Delhi, gave birth to me and my two siblings but she died when we were just under one week old. Fortunately, a compassionate young man picked us up off the streets and saved our lives. He hand-reared all three of us hapless babies.
Unfortunately, his family did not support his efforts.
They were going to force him to dump us all at a local temple where unwanted animals are often abandoned – and we would surely have perished there.
This dedicated caregiver managed to find an adoptive family for our sibling, and was trying to place us, too. However, when his situation became desperate and his family insistent, he urgently contacted another committed animal rescuer to come and save us. We were so lucky – we were picked up in the nick of time and driven to the veterinary office of the Drs. Choudhary where we received medical exams and our first vaccinations. Then – luckier still – our angel on earth, Sonia Heller, agreed to take us into her lovely home for foster care until permanent homes could be found for us. Here we are with Simmi Harding, a friend of the family who also fosters for Desi Furries Worldwide. Can you pick out me and Heidi in this photo? Ha ha ha – it’s a good thing Simmi loves dogs!
I am an adorable, sweet-natured pup with a pale tan coat and beautiful dark eyes. I am currently growing and learning, along with my sister Heidi, in our devoted foster family setting. I am a very silly girl and as a small pup, I was constantly trying to take a “bath” in a little flower pot! We have had a lovely childhood here! This is us a couple of months ago, in our “gangly” stage…
…and this is us now! Aren’t we turning into beautiful young ladies?
We are now six months old and although we love it here with our foster family, it sure would be wonderful to have a home and family to call our very own. I am a very friendly, sweet girl who tends to be submissive with other dogs. I am a healthy pup with good eating and sleeping habits, and I am quickly learning appropriate house-training routines with my foster family’s guidance.
I have come so far in life, thanks to the kindness of an interconnected chain of Good Samaritans. Will you be the last link in the chain that connects me to forever happiness?
Thanks for reading my story!
Love, Bella
For more information about adopting Bella, please contact Dawn Trimmel at (414) 426-4148. Thank you!
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The Desi Dogs of Delhi
Over a quarter of a million street dogs – possibly even many more than that – call Delhi, India home. These desi dogs coexist among Delhi’s 22 million human residents – and both humans and dogs must constantly walk a fragile, precarious line drawn between them to keep the uneasy peace between the species.
Until the day a widely-implemented program is put into place – one with the cornerstones of mass sterilization to reduce street dog numbers; vaccination to protect both dogs and humans from disease; and adoption/responsible pet ownership or street dog guardianship in the intervening years before sterilization naturally dwindles the dog overpopulation problem (for example, for dogs who would not do well in a domestic setting such as a home, there may be neighborhood communities that can commit to feeding and watching over their local packs) – there will be no easy answers to the desi dog problem.
Fortunately, there are two amazing veterinarians – the Drs. Choudhary – who are committed to helping address the Indian street dog issue at its very grassroots. Their dedication and hard work are phenomenal. Together, they have helped to rehabilitate and re-home many of these deserving dogs around the world. And by spaying and neutering, feeding, and medically treating hundreds of desi dogs, they have made lives better for many, many needy dogs.
Here is a link to a Facebook page called Desi Furries Worldwide that provides a wealth of information and many lovely updates about adopted Indian street dogs helped by the Drs. Choudhary. Additionally, here is a link to an informative article written last year and entitled A Better Life for Desi Dogs. It explains the plight of India’s street dogs, and showcases the important role that this husband-and-wife veterinary team have played in improving the lives of so many needy dogs. Thank you so much for your interest and support!