Home is not just a place, but a feeling.” This truth resonates deeply in the story of a small street dog in India, who found not just shelter but a sense of belonging with a couple. Jalebi, named for the sweet Indian treat, faced daunting challenges on the harsh streets, yet her life was transformed by the kindness of those once strangers, now her couple. This is their story.
Cuts And Bites
The couple had come to India for a year. During their regular morning walks, they stumbled upon Jalebi hiding under a car, trying to escape from other street dogs that bullied her.“She just turned up… sitting under a car,”. These dogs didn’t like her, and she was often seen perched on top of cars, trying to stay safe. She got many cuts and bites from these fights, and the couple would care for her wounds with antibiotics.
Jalebi’s loneliness struck a chord with the family. Unlike other street dogs, Jalebi “had that loneliness,” and her excitement upon their return was unmistakable: “she would just get so excited every time we would come home.” As winter approached, the family’s bond with Jalebi had deepened profoundly. They decided to open their gates to her, and from that moment, Jalebi chose their home as her sanctuary. “She just decided that she was going to live at our house,” they shared.
It Wasn’t Easy
However, their time in India ended, and the family faced the challenge of bringing Jalebi to Australia, complicated by India’s high-risk rabies status. “We couldn’t get rid of her. We live in Australia, and when we were leaving India in January, it was still another month or two before Jalebi was allowed to leave India because of the rabies blood tests,” they recounted.
The next step was a temporary stay in Delhi. “I was so upset that day that we took her to Delhi to drop her off at the homestay,” they shared. To meet Australia’s pet import rules, Jalebi then spent six months in France in the care of “an amazing lady.” This was needed to change her status from a high to a low rabies risk. The family anxiously awaited the time when they could reunite.
Quarantine Situation
Due to full quarantine facilities in Australia, Jalebi first went to New Zealand. “The quarantine was so booked up that we decided to get her to New Zealand,” where she completed a 10-day quarantine. Their reunion was filled with emotion and joy. “As soon as she saw me, she recognized me and was begging and she did sort of this whiny mourn as if she’s crying or telling me off for leaving her for such a long time.”
Now living in New Zealand with the family, Jalebi has found peace, though she still shows signs of her difficult past. The journey’s cost, about $15,000, that goes to show their commitment, but as they put it: “It was worth it… we just feel so lucky that she chose us and came into our lives.” The couple plans to move back to Melbourne, Australia, with Jalebi together in June.
Toledo, United States.
