My name is Tara. I’m one of three adorable desi puppies rescued from a dangerous roadside in New Delhi, India. We had international connections from the start: our mama, a sweet and beautiful dog named Rani, gave birth to us alongside New Delhi’s embassy row.
To some Indians, desi street dogs are a nuisance and they are not looked after at all, but the kind and attentive guards of one embassy shared their daily leftovers with our mama while keeping an eye on us littles. Once we grew big enough to run out into the busy road, a dog lover named Valerie stepped in to save us from peril, and brought our little family to her home. Our mother Rani told us that moments of grace like this are rare in street dogs’ lives; she, herself, walks on only three legs since getting hit by a car on the same dangerous road.
Since our rescue, our friend Valerie fostered us with great compassion and love, and Valerie’s friend–the wonderful veterinarian Dr. Premlata Choudhary–has been coordinating our care. Our mother Rani has been spayed, we’ve all received our vaccinations, and our lucky sister Puja just found her forever home here in Delhi with a Canadian family who adopted another desi dog last year. Dr. Choudhary has arranged for me and my brother Ajay to fly to Chicago where we’ll find our own loving families.
We’re very sweet and affectionate puppies. I was adopted upon arriving and have been in my current home for about a year. I am kennel trained and house trained. I am now an adult female about a year and a half old and weighing approximately 32 pounds. I came to the US in June 2018 and now I need to find a new home as my current home is not a good fit for me. I have the softest white coat and cutest honey-brown patch over my right ear and eye, and a very gentle way about me. I’m the kind of dog who responds well to positive reinforcement and patience, and wants to please. With your steady love and support, I’m sure to blossom into a delightful family companion; in Sanskit my name means shining star. Do you have a cozy, puppy-sized place in your home and an open heart? If so, I hope you’ll brighten up your life with me!
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Desi (day-see) dogs live on the city and village streets of India, with an estimated 400,000 in the capital Delhi, alone. Also called Indies, Indian Native Dogs, or pariah dogs, these dogs have changed little over thousands of years. Desi dogs are highly intelligent, alert, good-looking, athletic, and full of character. Many urban desi dogs have recent European breed ancestry too, along with sighthound sleekness and speed.
While most street dogs experience indifference at best, some neighbors and business owners look after their community dogs. Delhi’s extreme weather (cold winters, sweltering summers, thick smog, and monsoons), dangerous traffic, disease, human violence, and attacks from other dogs, ensure most desi puppies die before reaching adulthood. It’s a great irony that increasing numbers of status-conscious Indians are buying expensive and ill-suited foreign breed dogs, while more resilient and regal-looking native Indian dogs often have to travel internationally to find willing adoptive homes. Most of the desi dogs that ISDF places could not survive on Indian streets due to early orphaning or injury, or have been rescued from especially threatening situations.
If you are interested in adopting TARA, please contact Dawn Trimmel at info@istreetdog.com. You can also find our adoption application here. Your application must be approved before scheduling a meet and greet.