Welcome to “THE HATCHERY,” ResQ Global’s premiere online column where we keep you updated on the vital work we’re doing to protect and champion the rights of animals and nature everywhere.

Written By: Vartika Yadav

From snow-laced landscapes to sun-scorched alleyways, dogs are humanity’s oldest allies. This is a story of two dogs who walk beside us, and a reminder that compassion doesn’t need a pedigree.

Street Survivors

In India, Desi dogs, commonly referred to as “Indies,” are brilliant yet deeply misunderstood. Unfortunately, they face cruelty, abandonment, and apathy on a daily basis.

Found near food stalls, metro stations, and college campuses, they are alert, intelligent, and highly adaptive.

My Journey with Indies in Delhi 

When I first moved to Delhi as a college student, I did not expect that life in the city would teach me more about love than any classroom teaching.

I still remember the day; it was a rainy evening in Kamla Nagar. I found two Indie puppies trembling under a broken cart. They were barely a month old, their ribs visible, but their tails wagging at the sight of a biscuit. I couldn’t walk past.

That night, they stayed with me. I cleaned them, fed them milk-soaked bread, and wrapped them in my old shawl. Over the next few weeks, I named them Sunny and Desky, got them dewormed, and with the help of some kind-hearted classmates, found them loving homes and got them vaccinated.

Since then, I’ve helped rescue, foster, and get many dogs adopted, all while balancing college lectures, late-night study sessions, and exploring a new city.

To me, saving Sunny and Desky was never a form of charity — it was my responsibility.

The Global Canine Crisis 

● 200+ million dogs worldwide are living on the streets.

● In many countries, street dogs are subject to poisoning, culling, or trafficking.

● The lack of sterilization, vaccination, and education fuels cruelty and overpopulation.

A More Compassionate World Begins with Us 

Dogs have evolved with us. From detecting earthquakes to guiding the visually impaired, comforting war veterans, or guarding street corners, they give everything and ask for nothing but kindness.

Whether sledding across frozen lakes or sleeping beside a campus gate, dogs have never failed us. It’s time we stop failing them.

At ResQ Global, we strive to bridge the gap between abandonment and adoption, fear and empathy, and neglect and nurturing.

If a college student in a rented apartment like me can try to make a difference — I implore you to do the same.

References

1. World Health Organization – Global Rabies and Canine Population Studies

2. International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) – Street Dog Reports

3. ResQCT India – http://www.resqct.org

4. UNEP and UNDP Reports – Stray Animals and Urban Ecology

5. The Humane Society International – Global Street Dog Welfare Campaigns