Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Shanti!

After Khaki died last spring we promised the kids we would get a new puppy when we returned to Kathmandu from our summer trip to the States. Here is our latest addition.

Kathmandu is affectionately called Dogmandu. Street dogs are simply EVERYWHERE. Khaki had been a street dog from Nairobi and grew up to be our "international dog of mystery and intrigue" so we really didn't seriously consider not getting another street dog. There's nothing like "pickin' garbage" to fill out a pedigree. There is a rescue center here that goes out every morning rounding up street dogs and gets them spayed/neutered/dewormed etc. and then puts them back out on the street. (Theory being that at least "fixing" them will lower the population somewhat.) This is much more humane than the technique tried a few years back where they just scattered poisoned meat all over the city and then collected the dead dogs. Grrrrr.

Now could we really let them put this adorable pup back out on the cruel doggy streets? Nope. Welcome to the family Shanti! (Kit wants to call her Ella - I said it could be her middle name - bad Mommy)

I gave the camera to Kit. This may be the first picture I've been in for two years! (Except the ONE that is on this blog - even then I set it up and handed the camera to a friend.)

"Swift. Shanti is going to get Bunny."

"Really Swift. She is going to chew up Bunny and then YOU are going to be sad, sad, sad."

Too late.

9 comments:

Crazy Momma said...

What a beautiful story!

We adopted our cat from a "shelter" that does very much the same thing with feral cats. They pick them up, spay/neuter, set up "feeding stations" and release them. Feral cats cannot often be adopted (as they are wild) but our little man was so friendly they decided to give it a shot. These shelters are such a better alternative to what could be happening...

Thanks for stopping by my blog and showing the love! It has been great to hear from so many people - all over the world!

AdriansCrazyLife said...

What a cute puppy! I don't "do" puppies because they are such a pain in the neck, but I just love the little buggers, so it's always a treat to see cute puppy pictures. Keep 'em coming....

Connie said...

Adorable you, child & puppy! So how do you do it? Two years since your last picture and you look great! Good for you!

Bramblemoon Farm said...

Oh my gosh he is SO cute! Well, you and the kids are too:)

Rhea said...

Shanti is ADORABLE! That's such a cute picture of you, BTW. You have a wonderful smile and beautiful hair.

I can't imagine the dead dogs from poisoned meat scenario. What a nightmare!

Jennifer said...

what a cutie!

Danyele Easterhaus said...

my kids are soooo jealous right now of that sweet dog. and his name...too funny and precious! love it!

Anonymous said...

Such a cute dog! And it's great that they spay/neuter them. That is definitely better than their alternative.

BITR Country Girl said...

I'm visiting from the SITS blog. Shanti is a cutie! We have two shelter dogs ourselves. One is going to be 20 and the other is going to be 6. I'm glad that they are trying a different option besides poisoned meat...that's just cruel, but I guess sometimes they gotta do what they gotta do even if you don't agree with it right?