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Thinking of opening your heart and your home to a Labrador Retriever? Labradors are working breeds that have certain non-negotiable requirements to set them up for success. Here are a few things to consider when thinking about adopting one of these balls of endless love and energy.
Puppies; a bundle of oversized paws, wondrous eyes, floppy ears, tiny barks and adorable head tilts. Everything about these tiny fur balls is designed to make them irresistible and catalytic of the impulsive decision to bring one home. Once the spell fades, one soon realises the Goliath responsibility of raising another being. Adopting a puppy requires careful consideration to set them up for success. We set out a few things our readers may wish to mull over before deciding on adopting one.
A good place to start is to understand what breed is a good fit for your household. Every breed (including the indies and mixes) comes with unique temperaments, energy levels, and health conditions. Understanding these traits helps you tailor training, establish structure, and anticipate medical needs long before any issues arise.
Picture one of our pit-mix puppies. They are energetic, affectionate, and convinced your lap is prime real estate. Pitbulls, including mixes, tend to be intelligent and eager to please. They thrive on early socialisation and clear boundaries. Without them, they can develop anxiety or reactive behaviours. Knowing this encourages you to prioritise exposure to different people and environments and formulate a predictable routine from the get-go.
Then comes the financial aspect of puppy ownership. Initial vaccinations, deworming, anti-parasitic preventatives, routine wellness exams, and eventually spay or neuter surgeries can snowball costs. Beyond that, there is puppy food, training supplies, grooming tools, bedding, and enrichment toys. Good nutrition is essential to support healthy development. Costs would also vary across different breeds. Some breeds are genetically predisposed to certain conditions. Backyard breeding only worsens this situation and increases the odds of a puppy suffering from these conditions. Planning for these expenses ahead of time helps ensure your new companion receives consistent, necessary care without financial strain.
Equally wise is identifying a veterinarian before your puppy even arrives. Easy access to a trusted professional makes early checkups seamless and allows you to ask important questions about diet, vaccines, growth milestones, and breed-specific concerns. Early veterinary guidance builds a foundation for lifelong health.
The lifestyle a person leads also plays a major role in determining the right puppy. Daily routine, living environment, and energy levels are some factors to consider when choosing a breed. Imagine a high-energy herding breed such as a Border Collie in a low-activity home. The result is akin to a bull in a china shop. Choosing a puppy whose needs complement your lifestyle is key in setting up your puppy and the household for success.
Puppies are curious little creatures. They approach the world with unparalleled curiosity and enthusiasm. Before your new companion sets paw into your home, puppy-proof your home to reduce the risk of harm to your puppy. This includes securing electrical cords, removing toxic plants, blocking off unsafe areas, and making sure trash cans are inaccessible.
Curiosity can soon turn to mayhem if it is not redirected. For instance, our lab and golden retriever puppies are curious, energetic, affectionate and a little stubborn. This makes inculcating training into their lifestyle particularly important. Puppies, like their adult versions, thrive on structure, routine and consistency. Identifying a good trainer with adequate experience of the puppy’s breed would help set up the right training schedule for your puppy. It is important to remember that training is part of a puppy’s lifestyle and is not restricted to the primary caregiver or trainer. It extends to all members of the household. Training only works when everyone follows the same rules. If one person encourages couch cuddles while another enforces a strict “no furniture” policy, you can imagine just how confused a pup would be. This may result in unwanted behavioural issues. Establishing guidelines before the puppy arrives and ensuring everyone is prepared to participate in training, care, and supervision is a vital ingredient for victory.
Finally, patience is a virtue one cannot do without. Puppies chew, teethe, have accidents, and make questionable decisions. This ought to be met with calm, consistent guidance that will eventually culminate into rewarding milestones.
Adopting a puppy is joyous and fulfilling. With a little preparation and consistency, chewed shoes and sleepless nights give way to wagging tails, shared routines, and laughter filled days. The bond between you and your puppy blossoms over time, leaving you with countless happy moments and a lifetime of love.
There is a heartbreaking quiet that surrounds senior dogs left behind in their final years.
One cannot help but wonder what it must feel like for dogs, who once knew warm beds, familiar voices, and daily routines, to find themselves in a void. Yet, despite their loss, these older companions greet kindness with astonishing trust, offering unwavering affection and a resilience that feels almost heroic.
The Anubis-Tiger Foundation (“TATF”) has rescued its fair share of grey muzzled canines over the six years of it being in operation. At present, we are home to three senior pups, Don, Charles, and Frizzy with an honorary mention of Asia, a three-year-old Labrador Retriever suffering from chronic kidney disease.
Don, a twelve-year-old German Shepherd was abandoned at a local hospital by a family that no longer wanted him. Don’s bold strides have slowed and softened due to severe arthritis. Though age has silvered his coat and mellowed his pace, his spirit remains steady and loyal, a noble presence whose kindness fills the room long before his paws do.
Charles, a jolly, eleven-year-old Cocker Spaniel, lost his family during the Covid pandemic and had no place to go. Though unforeseen circumstances left this seasoned gentleman with us, Charles came from extreme love. He continues to experience the same love and affection as his day-to-day maintenance and medical expenses are supported by a generous donor. Charles is not up for adoption.
However, not all our seniors are as fortunate or blessed. Frizzy, a graceful Husky princess was surrendered at eleven years old. Despite her heartbreaking past, she is even-tempered and eager to share affection. True to her husky roots, she loves long walks, lounging in cool places and wolfing down ice cream. Frizzy also suffers from mild arthritis which is managed through routine acupuncture treatments.
Last but not the least is Asia, a female Labrador Retriever who was abandoned at three years old. Asia was rescued from a railway station in a dire condition. She was found with multiple dog bites that festered into maggot wounds. She suffers from chronic kidney disease that limits her time with us. Her daily routine is designed to keep her comfortable as she requires special medical attention. She is administered daily saline treatments and is on a strict renal diet, both crucial to managing her kidney disease. Asia’s spirit has not once waned and radiates joy with every tail wag and goofy smile.
From our experience, we have noticed that senior dogs face greater difficulty in finding homes compared to younger puppies. This is primarily since potential adopters have a pre-conceived notion that (i) senior dogs cannot be trained, (ii) they may have past trauma or behavioural issues that led to their abandonment or surrender or (iii) are suffering from unmanageable medical issues.
While it is true that adopting a senior dog does come with its own set of responsibilities, many of these can be easily managed with a little understanding, preparation and dedication. One of the key responsibilities is ensuring that the dog receives regular veterinary care to address age-related health issues, such as arthritis. Though regular exercise is vital for the general health of dogs, older dogs require shorter, gentler walks, which can fit easily into a busy schedule. Older dogs may also have specific dietary needs for weight management or joint health, but these are typically straightforward to incorporate into daily life.
Adopting a senior dog arguably results in benefits that outweigh the responsibilities. Senior dogs have outgrown puppy energy, which means they are calm and relaxed. They tend to be independent and prefer to lounge on their own, requiring less constant attention than a younger dog. It is a myth that older dogs cannot be trained. While the type of tricks you can teach an older dog may differ from younger puppies, all dogs, irrespective of their age, are trainable. This allows them to easily adjust in a new home. Time works differently for dogs, so even a few months can feel like a lifetime for them. This gives them plenty of an opportunity to form strong, loyal bonds with their adopters.
Although our seasoned residents have limited time, we are committed to making every moment as fulfilling and joyful as possible. You can be a part of their journey as well. If you are a person who lives a sedentary lifestyle and are looking for an easygoing companion, consider adopting a senior dog. These dogs would thrive in families who understand their needs and can offer them the love, attention, and medical care they deserve.
By giving a senior dog or a dog nearing the end of their lifespan a home, you are not just rescuing a soul but also promising to restore their dignity, comfort, and love when they need it most. Every moment of love they receive is a victory and a testament to rescue, compassion, and the hope for a happily ever after.
Why do you want a German shepherd?? Can’t you adopt an indie?
Why do you want a breed ? Can’t you give an indie a home?
You’re Indian, why can’t you have an Indian dog?
Adopt an indie, breed dog main kya rakha hai?
We’ve heard this a hundred times.
Is it just US who can only see a lost dog with fear in his eyes?
Is it just US that cannot see the distinctive shape of his snout or the point of his ears or the colours of his coat?
Is it just US that sees a dog that was till now in a home, sleeping on a bed, used to meals at a fixed time , being patted on the head now wandering scared and lost on an unfamiliar street???
Is it just US that feels sorry for someone who doesn’t know how to survive on a crowded road , dodge reversing tankers, sleep with one eye open, dive into dumpsters and come up with a piece of bread???
Is it just US who can feel his loss?
Is it only US that can understand his terror?
A breed dog on the street is just that …. an abandoned dog. His breed does not entitle him to special privileges. It does not allow him to jump into a garbage bin first and come up with chicken.
Abandoned Breed dogs are just that: abandoned.
The word is scared, sad, lonely and abandoned.
Do you not see pain in his beagle eyes!? How is it different from the tears in the eyes of an indie??
Is the stomach of a labrador different from an indies?? Does he not feel hunger because he is a breed?
Does the wound on a German shepherd not get maggots because he is a breed?
Do the paws of a Lhasa apso not burn on hot tar ?? Only indies burn is it??
A Great Dane with broken front limbs is the same as a paraplegic indie. They both can’t walk!
The difference here my friends is in your vision.
You see a breed . We see a dog. You see an indie. We see a dog.
Stop breed shaming people who show a preference for a particular type of dog. They’re just showing their preference. Is that wrong? You insult them on social media. You scream insults at them . You curse at them for not wanting an indie.
Then my friends it’s time to walk the walk.
Start wearing dhotis and sarees. Don’t wear jeans because that’s not our indigenous dress.
Don’t send your kids to English schools. Teach them Sanskrit
I could go on…..
You have a right to preference. It’s your constitutional right. You are allowed a choice. Right to choose.
When you breed shame an adopter he won’t adopt the breed but he definitely won’t adopt an indie either! So who won??? You. You stopped him from adopting. But the dog lost. Heavily. He had a chance at love and a home. And like an elusive butterfly it just flew away.
My suggestion ?
Let’s all work hard on finding homes for indies. Work harder.
Let’s work on sterilisation.
Let’s work on vaccination programmes.
Let’s work on collaring .
Don’t climb higher by pulling someone down.
Climb higher because you’re good. Really good!
Educate people. Talk gently. Explain how indies are a healthier , more resilient breed.
Explain how indies have less health issues.
Explain how indies are immune to weight gain and dysplasia.
Explain how indies are loving and affectionate.
For every breed dog that finds a home there is an indie going home too.
We at The Anubis-Tiger Foundation are working hard at it each day. With gentle persuasion.
One indie at a time.
One breed at a time.
One dog at a time.
This open letter is addressed to all those people that call me up at all hours of the day and night telling me stumblingly how they have to give away their dog because their landlord won’t allow them to keep him , they have a new baby , their fourteen year old suddenly developed an allergy and their father fell over the dog so he must go.
This is for you “people”.
No excuse is good enough to give away your dog. Not one.
I won’t tell you what you know.
That he has been with you and like a faithful woman knows no other.
That it’s wrong to give him away.
That you should try and keep him.
No.
I’ll tell you what you don’t know.
That there is a 1% percent chance that he may not survive in the adoptive home. And that is too much.
That you may never see him again and that’s fine. You have given him away. You have surrendered him. Dumped him. But I may never see him again. And I couldn’t bear it because he’s a part of my soul. My heart.
I work day and night to find a home for your baby.
Sleepless nights.
Mounting foster bills.
Worries over his new home.
Second guessing every choice of parent.
Neutering and medical costs. Go through it all. Singularly.
I bear your cross. A cross you should carry.
And for joy!!! I find him the perfect home. The perfect mama. And the world is beautiful again.
Then out of the blue an arrow in the heart. The soul shattering loss of a baby after he goes to his perfect home: to snake bite, to rat poison, to heart attack, to old age, to peritonitis, to death.
The guilt.
The pain.
The loss.
This is when the team takes a hit.
This is when we feel you don’t deserve to know that he’s not here anymore. You don’t deserve to hear that he’s gone. You don’t deserve anything.
And almost always we are right.
We reserve the tears for ourselves.
We stare at the ceiling. Tired unseeing eyes.
We grieve.
We cry our eyes out.
We swear to take a break.
We say we are quitting.
Until the next time the phone rings.
Until the next deserter calls. Quitter!
I see you sir.
I see your dog and he doesn’t deserve you. He deserves us fighting for him . In his corner. Our sword glistens silver . And it’s raised for him.
En garde.
To save themselves from getting bored in the house, many of these mostly urban, upper-middle-class people either adopted or purchased puppies and dogs—giving rise to the phenomenon of the Pandemic Puppy. But lots of them did this with little idea of the commitment it takes to have a pet. Or they later fell prey to misinformation, believing that their companions could potentially give them COVID-19, a fact that was later discovered to only carry a remote possibility. Some others, hit by economic difficulties, could no longer provide for their pets.
And so, a second crisis hit the streets: Hundreds of fully grown dogs and very young puppies were given up, throwing animal shelters and rescuers into chaos.
Over the past couple of months, pets have been left behind in balconies without food and water, tied to lampposts in public areas, tossed out of moving vehicles hours away from their homes, and bundled in sacks and left at the doors of animal shelters.
Abandoning pet animals is a crime under Sections 3 and 11 of The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960.
Some of the actual excuses behind the abandonment that animal activists and welfare workers have heard have ranged from the banal to the downright ridiculous. ‘The maids are not coming so there’s no one to walk the dog and feed him’ is one gem. ‘There’s too much shedding,’ ‘We are relocating,’ and the most ridiculous one: ‘We’ve run out of kibble.’
“At this point, I don’t even bother asking them the reason for surrender anymore,” says Deepa Talib, chairperson of the Anubis-Tiger Foundation in Mumbai, that rescues, rehabilitates and re-homes abandoned dogs. They have rescued over 60 animals in the past three months. “It just makes me angry.”
Some among the abandoned pedigree animals were breeder discards. Adult dogs used in breeding are put through unspeakably cruel and unethical practices, often leaving them with ailments that are exorbitant to treat. As the pandemic wore on, breeders also discarded sickly, sometimes parasite-infested dogs once they could no longer “manufacture” puppies. “Since puppies are usually separated from their mother at 10-15 days of age, they lack the essential nutrients they’d otherwise get from their mother’s milk,” says Deven Baheti, who co-runs Deven’s Hope, a Hyderabad-based rescue. “Naturally, pups not adopted during the lockdown fell sick and were no longer an asset but a liability in terms of medical treatment to the breeders, who’d just discard them.”
As coronavirus cases continue to rise in India, the numbers of adult dogs and young puppies abandoned on the streets have surged, leaving animal rescuers, welfare organisations, and shelters shocked and scrambling for resources. VICE spoke to rescuers across India, all of whom reported that they were taking in at least twice the usual number of cruelty and abandonment cases. As if this wasn’t enough, strays seemed to have lost practice with being on crowded roads, and the number of accidents involving them have spiked. Just last Sunday, Padmini Stump of Pune-based shelter and rescue, Mission Possible, got calls about 17 injured dogs.
“We work until four or five in the morning,” she laments after a morning of rescuing four dogs. “Some days are quieter and we think ‘Oh, maybe tonight we’ll get to go to bed on time, and then at 3 a.m, we get a call. I am 62 years old. I haven’t seen my family in six months. I have more than 1,000 dogs, split between two shelters and my home, where I have about 400. Many of these already need medical care. It’s pure madness.”
Rescuers have had no choice but to respond, ploughing through transport restrictions and limited access to veterinary care.
Some have dug deeper into their own pockets and sometimes, those of their friends and family. Fundraisers have been held in haste. Others, like the Puppy Rescue Crew Foundation (PRCF) in Guwahati, have been lucky to have the support of the local state police, who pitched in with rescues.
“The only way to cope with this was to work extra hours, and put in extra effort,” says a spokesperson from Animal Adoption & Care (AAC), a Mumbai-based rescue. “We simply had to make it work. If we couldn’t, we made sure to find an organisation or a rescuer who could.”
Second Chance Adoption Center in Bengaluru quickly hit full capacity and began issuing adoption appeals by the dozen to make space. “We have had over 100 calls (since March) but unfortunately we have been able to take in only half that volume,” says Sanjana Madappa, a rescuer who works closely with the centre.
This cloud has not been without its silver lining though. In the middle of the lockdown, AAC volunteers managed to assist a cat through a painful and complicated birth under the guidance of a vet on video call. Some of the rescuers VICE spoke with also noted a welcome increase in the number of people willing to foster animals. Stump, who is usually very rigorous and strict about adoption screenings, has sent a few dogs to promising forever homes this week.
Stories like these give us hope, and balance out the trauma of knowing of or even accidentally chancing upon graphic and triggering images of animals on social media. But the truth is, animal rescue and welfare organisations shouldn’t have to even exist.
Knowing what it takes to rehabilitate an animal emotionally and physically, nothing sufficiently makes up for what the animal has to go through when it’s separated from its owners.
“We had one dog that was abandoned and she became very unfriendly and aggressive,” says Prerana Gogoi of the PRCF. “She was so disturbed when she first came to us, but she’s now the happiest kid in the house. But what if it wasn’t my house?”
The above writing and images have been sourced from a Vice.com article where anubistigerfoundation was mentioned.
]]>We had dogs all our life. We lived with biters and sick dogs. Big dogs and bigger dogs. But dogs remained a constant. Today when people give up dogs because they have a baby I wonder what kind of life they are offering their child?
A life devoid of unconditional love? But that’s what they expect from their children when they grow old?
A life uncaring of friendship and partnership? But they expect their children to have happy marriages?
A life without discipline and perseverence ? A dog teaches discipline because they expect to be walked and fed at fixed times.But they expect their children to be toppers ?
A life without good health? Dogs are the biggest stress busters and children who grow from an early age with dogs are know to have higher immunity than those without a furball friend.
I sneezed my childhood years away. I coughed a little too. I fell sick same as others and never blamed it on the dog.But oh boy! I wouldn’t change a day of that life!!!
I grew up with dogs and I’m a living organ donor. One of the choice few in this country. I gave a kidney and lived to tell the tale. Happy, healthy and so so alive!!!
Dogs are a child’s best friend. Don’t take that away from your baby!
]]>OSKAR GOES TO AMERICA!
Oskar our little 1 year old Indie boy who lost the use of his hind legs as a puppy has found a wonderful opportunity to find a home in the USA.
Finding abandoned and needy dogs a home has always been the raison d’être for the The Anubis-Tiger Foundation and now we take it further by taking Oskar across the seas.
Oskar has been raised painstakingly and lovingly by his caretaker parents in Mumbai and all praise must be given to Shikha Pandey for protecting this child and working so hard towards his rehabilitation even when the going got rough. They never gave up on him and that today is commendable. All this would not have been possible without their sterling efforts.
We tried so hard to find Oskar an adoptive family here in India but failed. There was no one who could commit to the kind of care and attention this little boy would need. So the search began and ended in a stream of wonderful people who all came together from various countries and walks of life all in order to achieve a common goal. A good, safe, loving home for Oskar.
We are so excited to announce that Oskar is finally going to the US on 24th July 2019.
The Anubis-Tiger Foundation has in a small way provided logistical and financial support for Oskar’s journey to the US.
Jess Britany, Nicole Dome and Jen Marquis from Delhi the Street Dog Foundation have been the point of contact in the US and have guiding us with the process and Jen Marquis has so kindly offered to be Oskar’s chauffeur from Seattle to Oregon.
Amanda Wheeler and Trish Burson of Street Dog Hero, Oregon have helped us find the perfect foster home for Oskar.
Erica Psaltis Medici has so generously offered to provide him with a safe loving foster until he goes to his forever home.
Mini Kapoor Seth from Delhi has helped us find the best flight buddy for Oskar.
Teresa Beere Johnson is coming all the way from Canada just to accompany Oskar and be his flight buddy back to the US.
Anupama Vinayak at Furry Fliers who made the process of him travelling out so simple.
We wish you well Oskar!
Love, light and blessings on you to guide you on your journey!
God Bless you boy.
Good luck and safe travels.
The Anubis-Tiger Foundation
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