Namaste! I’m Lisa, a petite, 6-month-old Indian puppy, and a sweetheart, through and through. Although the silver moon in the Chicago sky is the same one that shines down on Delhi, my whole world is undergoing a wonderful transformation! I’ll soon be over the moon with joy when I find my forever family!
I actually had a family before, but only for a sliver of time. When they brought me home, they thought I was a tiny black Lab puppy. While I was surely a tiny puppy and black, it was soon obvious that I wasn’t a Lab, and I was tossed back out on the street, with little chance of survival. Thankfully, my bad luck changed when I was rescued by a kind man named Inder. Inder told me that I should hold my head high—-I am a true Indian dog, and we’ve been around for millennia more than any Labrador. He introduced me to many nice people, but despite my playful personality and cute looks, no one stepped up to adopt me. So when Inder said I could find a home in Chicago for sure, I jumped at the chance, and here I am!
I’ve loved all the young people I’ve met, and while I haven’t been introduced to any little kids or babies, I’m pretty sure I’d like them too. I enjoy playing with other dogs; cats are still a mystery to me. I crave praise, and love to please. My Chicago godmother, Dawn, says I’m very dainty and sweet and have been doing great in my crate, but I’d never say no to a comfy sofa either! I love treats and toys, and am excited to continue my education. If my dream comes true, I’ll be your honeypie, and you’ll be my happily ever after!
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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 Indian Native Dogs or Pariah Dogs, these dogs have changed little over many hundreds 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.
With the extreme weather (damp, chilly winters, 115-degree summers, and monsoons), dangerous traffic, disease, human violence, and attacks from other dogs, most Desi puppies never make it to adulthood. Lack of awareness and cultural opposition to spaying and neutering continues the cycle of suffering. While most street dogs experience indifference at best, some neighbors and business owners look after their “community dogs.” Dedicated volunteer animal advocates and NGOs feed and provide veterinary care to as many dogs as they can in the face of overwhelming need. Few Indians see Desi dogs as suitable pets, however, opting instead for expensive and ill-suited European purebred dogs. It’s a great irony that more resilient and regal-looking native Indian dogs often have to travel internationally to find loving 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.
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If you are interested in adopting LISA, please contact Dawn Trimmel at info@istreetdog.com. You can also find our application here. Your application must be approved before scheduling a meet and greet.