Home is not just a place but also a feeling.” This truth resonates deeply in the story of a small street dog in India who not only finds shelter but also feels a sense of belonging with a couple. Jalebi, named after the sweet Indian dish, faced difficult challenges on the harsh streets, but her life was transformed by the kindness of former strangers , now her couple. This is their story.
cuts and bites
The couple has been in India for a year. During their regular morning walks, they came across Jalebi hiding under a car, trying to escape from other street dogs that had been bullying her.“She just appeared… sitting under the car,”. These dogs do not like her, and she is often seen sitting on top of cars, trying to stay safe. She suffered many cuts and bites from these fights, and the couple tended to her wounds with antibiotics.
Jalebi’s loneliness affected the family. Unlike other street dogs, Jalebi “there is that loneliness,” and her excitement when they returned was unmistakable: “She would be so excited every time we came home.” As winter approaches, the family’s relationship with Jalebi deepens. They decided to open the gate for her and from that moment on, Jalebi chose their house as her shelter. “She just decided that she will live at our house,” they share.
It’s not easy
However, their time in India came to an end and the family faced the challenge of bringing Jalebi to Australia, which was complicated by the high-risk rabies situation in India. “We can’t get rid of her. We live in Australia and when we left India in January, it was still a month or two before Jalebi was allowed to leave India because of the rabies blood test,” they recounted.
The next step is to stay temporarily in Delhi. “I was very sad that day so we took her to Delhi to drop her off at a local house,” they share. To meet Australia’s pet import regulations, Jalebi then spent six months in France under the care of “a wonderful woman”. This was necessary to change her condition from high to low risk for rabies. The family anxiously waits for the reunion.
Quarantine situation
Due to adequate quarantine facilities in Australia, Jalebi came to New Zealand for the first time. “The quarantine was so booked that we decided to fly her to New Zealand,” where she completed her 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 appeared to be whining as if she were crying or blaming me for leaving her for such a long time.”
Now living in New Zealand with her family, Jalebi has found peace even though she still has signs of her difficult past. The cost of the trip, about $15,000, demonstrates their commitment, but as they said: “It was so worth it… we feel so lucky that she chose us and came into our lives.” The couple plans to move with Jalebi to Melbourne, Australia in June.
