International Dog Day: How this Mumbai teenager is raising awareness about the well-being of stray dogs

Adhya Soni’s NGO also offers grief counselling to pet parents

Mumbai teenager Adhya Soni's profound love for dogs surpasses every other aspect of her life. It comes from her mother Sonia Soni, who Adhya says, has always had dogs as pets while she was growing up. So, imagine their heartache when the younger Soni saw a female dog hurt in her housing society in the city after a car ran over her. The Mumbaikar was distraught. She narrates, "Back in school after the pandemic, a distressing call reached my mother, informing her that Rani had been hit by a vehicle and had taken refuge in a nearby gutter. The call came because I had been the one to care for her before the pandemic. Although they were prepared to cover her medical expenses due to the accident, our only wish was to reunite with her. Our efforts to rescue her were met with substantial blood loss, and despite my mother's valiant attempts, we tragically couldn't save Rani."

Every year, the world observes International Dog Day on August 26 to celebrate canines. Unfortunately, even as there are people who absolutely love them, there are others whose only intent is to harm them, and Rani was at the receiving end of this as it only got worse, says Adhya, who breaks down into tears as we speak to her.

The hand-painted dog-themed art pieces by Soni

"When we received her lifeless body, it was shrouded in cloth. On enquiring about their protocol for handling dog remains, they casually mentioned disposing them," she recalls, her voice tinged with sorrow. "In tears, I turned to my mother and asked if we could perform a cremation for her. We took charge of the cremation costs and bade her farewell akin to saying goodbye to a cherished family member. This experience has spurred me to embark on a journey of meaningful work."

A fitting tribute

In the wake of this heartrending incident and deeply touched by the circumstances, Adhya resolved to launch Pawfull - an endeavour aimed at tending to dogs' welfare by using proceeds from her hand-painted dog-themed art pieces sold within the city. "Pawfull stands as a tribute to Rani and a personal commitment I forged, ensuring that no other creature's remains would be left to decay among the refuse."

With an enduring passion for art since her early years, Adhya has channelled her creative talents to aid canines in need. By offering a set of five prints at R250, she has successfully contributed to NGOs dedicated to rescuing and caring for dogs within the city throughout the past year. Beginning with a single creation, she has now amassed an impressive portfolio of over 997 artworks, which are currently available for sale online.

Starting Aparigraha

Now, Adhya is taking her love for dogs a step further. She explains, "My mother is a dog lover, and has experienced the pain of losing three dogs in her life." It is this very feeling of losing a pet that led her to start Aparigraha, a pet grief counselling project that can help pet parents deal with the loss of their pets. Currently, they have three grief counsellors located in Mumbai, Indore and Delhi, who are helping Indians come to terms with the loss of their pets. "The reason why I started Aparigraha is because I felt my mother could never come out of the grief of losing her pets. Today, if I feel so much about Rani, she has much more pain to
handle. She has also undergone counselling," shares the Class 12 student of the Aditya Birla World Academy in Mumbai, which has wholeheartedly supported her in her endeavour to help dogs.

Fortunately, the family welcomed Buster, their pet dog, into their lives amid the Covid-19 pandemic. True to his name, he has proven to be a source of solace for the entire family, offering relief during their period of grieving for Rani. Adhya reflects, "He serves as a guiding light in my life, exemplifying that love is inherently boundless and doesn't hinge on external factors. I believe there's no one as overjoyed to see me as he is, at any hour. Buster imparts lessons in empathy, nurturing, generosity, and reminds me that affection transcends language barriers."

It is this very nature of Buster that reminds them about the importance of safeguarding dogs within our society, considering the harm they encounter from various quarters. "If you meet a street dog, they are harmless till you don't provoke them. Just as humans typically have reasons for their actions, animals also exhibit violence due to specific reasons. Not everyone needs to be a pet owner but everyone can provide animals with a habitat to exist," she signs off.

Log on to pawfull.in or @pawfull_forever (to buy greeting cards); pawfullforever @gmail.com (for counselling and enquiries)

A bow-wow meal

This International Dog Day, take your canine friends on a much-needed date to these pet-friendly restaurants

BrewDog Midtown, Kamala Mills Compound, Senapati Bapat Marg, Lower Parel.
Call 8097446944
Cost Rs 2,500 (for two, separate dog menu available)

Poco Loco, Hotel Shubhangan, 21st Road, Khar West.
Call 9324191366
Cost Rs 150 onwards (for pet-friendly options)

Pefe, Pratisthan Bungalow, Lokhandwala Complex, Andheri West.
Call 9768211111
Cost Rs 1,000 (for two, separate dog menu and a grooming centre available)

Madeira & Mime, Trans Ocean House, Hiranandani Gardens, Powai.
Call 2241415161
Cost Rs 3000 (for two, separate dog menu available)

Play time!

Take your dogs for a stroll in these specially made-for-dogs parks across the city to engage in the various activities and rides, or just woof around with other pets.

A dog enjoys its time in the pool. Pic courtesy/Instagram

Pool Pupper Pet Park Triveni Ground, Nari Gursahani Road, behind National College, Bandra West.
Call 9920445499 (for private pool parties, and enquiries)
Log on to @poolpupper_petpark

Carter Road Dog's Park
Sangeet Samrat Naushad Ali Road, Chuim, Pali Hill.
Time 5 am to 11 pm