Desperation and Destiny- The life changing journey of a rescued puppy

Sowmya Raju | NT

A few weeks ago, I set out on a journey to a strawberry farm, located 70 kilometres away, in search of a much-needed day off from the hustle and pace of city life.

Little did I anticipate that this one-day rural exploration would unfold into a heart-warming tale, forever engraved in my memory.

En route to the farm, my friend Tejas and I encountered an unexpected twist.

Near Sarjapura, amidst the vast expanse, I spotted a small, trembling creature on the road, initially mistaken for a squirrel due to its diminutive size.

However, as we drew closer, it became apparent that this tiny being was, in fact, a baby puppy.

The urgency of the situation struck when a traveller bus appeared oblivious to the vulnerable puppy in its path. Naturally, I signalled Tejas to halt our bike, flagged down the bus, and scooped the shivering canine into my hands.

The fragility of her frame and the fear in her eyes resonated deeply with me. Contemplating leaving her by the roadside, hoping her mother or siblings might find her, I couldn't bring myself to part ways.

The prospect of her being run over haunted me, and I made a spontaneous decision – she was coming with us.

Cradled in my hands, nestled in a small hat on my lap, she became an unexpected companion on our trip to the farm. Upon reaching the strawberry fields, I roamed the expanse with her in my arms.

The farm's dwellers were happy to offer a towel and water to comfort the shivering puppy.

The return journey to the city marked the beginning of a new chapter. Our first stop – a veterinarian's clinic.

The doctor revealed that the puppy was too weak for vaccinations or a bath. The days that followed turned into a quest to find her a home.

Finding a home for the puppy turned out to be harder than I thought. People in India usually prefer specific breeds, and the shelters were either full or didn't want to take in small, delicate puppies.

Being a journalist with a fulltime job and living alone in a small apartment, I felt stuck.

I couldn't give her the care she needed, but I couldn't bring myself to let her go either. Driven by a strong will and growing fondness for the puppy, I contacted everyone I knew, visited adoption events, and searched through social media tirelessly.

But, the challenge was that people usually prefer trendy Instagrammable breeds like tiny teacup puppies, Golden Retrievers, or Huskies.

Tejas, my friend who was there with me from the start, turned out to be a great help in taking care of the puppy. Even though he had a busy schedule, he showed strong support during this unexpected situation.

After a few days, I got emotionally attached to the little girl and decided to name her ‘Sandy’ after my elder sister Sandhya.

She stayed for a while at my place and with a couple of friends. Every time she opened her eyes, she was in a new location. But the big task was still ahead – finding a permanent home for her.

One day, just before Valentine's Day, I felt really desperate to find a good home for Sandy. I went doorto-door in different neighbourhoods, asking for help and hoping to secure a future for the little puppy.

During this tough time, something unexpectedly good happened. As a stroke of luck, I made conversation with a humble rag-picker aunty, someone I will remember forever, on the street, hoping she might know someone who could help.

Surprisingly, she connected me with someone genuinely excited to welcome ‘Sandy’ into their home. The happiness on his face was contagious as he embraced her as a new member of his family.

Looking back at how I found the puppy near Sarjapura and decided to approach the rag-picker aunty, it seems like destiny played a part in making a positive change in Sandy's life.

The unexpected adventure of Sandy's story is a testament to how kindness and a genuine desire to help can lead to incredible and unpredictable outcomes.

The moral of this underscores the alarming trend where the pervasive desire for foreign breeds, driven by social media aesthetics, is leading to the neglect of dogs of Indian breed.

Despite their resilience and trainability, these local companions face a dismal adoption rate, with many spending their entire lives in shelters.

The harsh reality of shelters resorting to mercy killing due to the lack of adopters sheds light on the urgent need for a shift in perspective, emphasising the importance of appreciating and adopting locally indigenous dogs.

I hope this encourages a reconsideration of pet preferences, emphasising the well-being of these equally deserving local companions over trends dictated by social media.