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A life shared with an Indie

Chhoti, and the peace she brings.

Chhoti resting by a doorway and looking directly at the camera
Chhoti, entirely herself.

Chhoti, a little closer.

Chhoti resting by a doorway

Paws stretched out. Chhoti, entirely herself.

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I first met Chhoti at DK Animal Hospital, where I work as a veterinarian. She had come in for treatment. She was so sweet and affectionate that I quickly felt connected to her. I wanted her to stay with me, so I decided to give her a home.

Chhoti standing confidently at the animal hospital
A familiar place, and a very expressive patient.

Chhoti, a little closer.

Chhoti standing at the animal hospital

All ears, and a rather wonderful pair of them.

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Life with Chhoti feels like an adventure. Whenever we go out together, I forget about everything else. I feel calmer around her, and sometimes it feels like it is just the two of us and the rest of the world disappears.

Chhoti is incredibly expressive. She somehow communicates what she wants without saying a word, and she has a way of turning even an ordinary walk into something memorable.

“She gives me a sense of peace that’s hard to explain.”

What Chhoti changed

“She completely changed my mind.”

I once thought Indie dogs could be aggressive, dull or difficult to train. Chhoti completely changed my mind. They are intelligent, loyal, adaptable and incredibly resilient. Their natural street-smartness makes them wonderful companions.

A close portrait of Chhoti’s warm amber eye and alert ears
She rarely needs words to make herself understood.

Chhoti, a little closer.

A close portrait of Chhoti

Those ears. That little world behind her eyes.

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A thought for someone considering adoption

Indie dogs are well suited to the Indian climate, but adoption is still a long-term commitment. Make sure your family is ready, take care of vaccinations and spaying or neutering, and most importantly, give them patience, safety, love and time to adjust.

“They don’t need a fancy lifestyle. They just need a good home.”
— Ajay
A little hello?

Thank you, Ajay and Chhoti, for letting us visit for a while.

One ordinary walk can hold a whole little world.

Return to Stories from Ghar →Shared by Ajay and lightly edited for length and clarity.