Will you take me home?

How many times have you looked at a street dog and made a face or cursed it for being such a menace? But not everyone complains that stray dogs are troublemakers — there are some thoughtful people who actually adopt these homeless pups and provide them with a loving home that every puppy would long for. Dedicated dog lovers who’ve adopted street dogs share their experiences with us …

Twenty-four-year-old Achala Pani has been promoting the cause of street dog adoption since many years. Achala, who has found homes for around 1000 street dogs, says, “When I was 14, my mom brought home a puppy she found on the street. Since then, I’ve been bringing puppies home too.” She even organises adoption camps and sends out mails to people informing them about puppies available for adoption. So how does she convince people to adopt strays? “By telling them that by adopting a stray dog, they will be saving a life as well as solving the street dog issue. We can’t just complain all the time, we should make a difference by finding a home for them,” says Achala, who has started an NGO called ‘Let’s live together’ dedicated to this cause in Bengaluru.

Another animal lover who has made two street dogs her own is architecture student Neha Suresh. “I found these two puppies at a construction site. Nobody was there to take care of them, so I decided to bring them home when they were just two months old.” Jack and Ziggy is what she has named her two pets that are now a year old. The response from people around them has been fantastic, she says. “Many people come and ask us if we can lend our dogs to them. They even feed Jack and Ziggy with chapatis everyday!” laughs Neha who has also found a home for another dog she found near her house.

For Bhargava GA, who owns a consulting firm, and his wife Priya, adopting two street dogs has been a great experience. “For a long time, we were thinking of adopting a dog. We finally decided to adopt mongrels instead of buying a pedigree. After we came across a blog about puppy adoption, we adopted two male puppies,” he says of his pets Copper and Cookie that have been living with them since eight weeks now. The puppies, he says are very intelligent and loving, adding, “They have gelled so well into our home. We are now a family of four!”

Adopting a street dog can sure be fun and fulfilling. So, the next time you want to bring home a pup, don’t forget those on the street that are craving a home!