You have seen those clips on Facebook and YouTube, right?  Those super-cute ridiculously-adorable dog videos?  The ones where the doggies are actually… smiling?  If you adopt me, I could star in videos!  I’m a smiling dog!  These days, I am really smiling because I am totally healed after a terrible accident, and I am traveling to the U.S. to find my Forever Home!  My sister, Zumana, is also traveling with me!  My other sister, Alaia, joined the ISDF community a few months ago.

I am an eight month-old boy from Oman who used to play with all the neighborhood kids when I lived on the street.  I am so happy and friendly!  One day, when I was a small pup, I was hit by a car.  I don’t have any memories of this experience – thankfully! – but, I do remember my awesome rescuer, Varsha.  She has provided all my care since that day, and she is also my foster mom!  I suffered a broken leg in the accident, so I had orthopedic surgery to correct the break.  Today, you would never know I required such serious care because I can play for hours with all my canine foster siblings!

I am a great, easy-going young fella who is wonderful with other dogs and tolerant of indoor cats.  I haven’t seen many kids since my injury, but the children from my old neighborhood still check with Varsha about my well-being!  I love getting attention from people, and I will paw or ‘mouth’ at you until you smother me with kisses and hugs.  Varsha said that I am a shadow that followers her around during the day.  I am not as active as the other foster doggies; I tend to get some basic exercise and then enjoy a long rest!  I am learning basic commands and doing well with potty-training, leash-walking, and crate-training.  My foster mom said that she is so thankful that I will have the chance to see new things and have more experiences with my Forever Family.  I hope to see you soon!  Just look for the handsome guy with the winning smile!

Oman is an Arab country in the southeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula.  It has wonderful national treasures, vivid landscapes… and thousands of “wadi” – or street – dogs.  These wadi dogs can be seen virtually everywhere.  Unfortunately, they face the same plight as dogs in many Muslim countries where they are generally viewed as unclean and not fit to be pets.  Dog ownership is rare, and when they are owned, dogs are usually not allowed in the house.  Pets are viewed more commonly as guard dogs who roam the outside vicinity of the property.  The government doesn’t have humane animal welfare laws, and, worse yet, police have open rights to shoot “any and all” street dogs.  There is no requirement that the dogs have to be a nuisance or sick; rather, they will be killed just for having the unfortunate luck of being born on the streets in Oman.  It is a common practice.  Many wadi dogs suffer a slow, painful death caused by festering gunshot wounds.  If a gunshot does not kill them, street dogs die of disease, starvation, abuse by people, vehicles, and extreme weather conditions.  In the summer, the temperature can easily soar to 120 degrees Fahrenheit.  Most Omani street dogs do not survive beyond the age of three.

Rescue Partner: Varsha Karnik

Arrival: July 28, 2017

Age and Weight: 8 months and 40 pounds