One-eyed stray DOG to fly to adoptive family in US

A bit of luck can take you places. A one-yearold, one-eyed dog that once roamed the streets of Pune and is now being looked after by a family in Andheri, is ready to fly off to the US as an American family has decided to adopt her.


Andheri resident Dr Disha Patel, who has been fostering Bonnie the dog since January, had found her on the streets of Pune.

Patel, a veterinary student, was then training at an animal rescue centre in the Bavdhan locality. Bonnie, who was just a couple of months old then, had met with an accident. “One of her eyes was damaged and had to be removed surgically. Days after, she had another accident in which she damaged the jaw,” said Patel.

While treating Bonnie, Patel said she got attached to the dog. “Despite the two accidents, she had a feisty spirit and the will to live,” said Patel. A flurry of phone calls to her parents and a bit of cajoling helped get Bonnie from Pune to her Andheri home with a flicker of hope to get her adopted.

But aesthetics matter much to people is what Patel soon realised. “No one seemed to be ready to take home a one-eyed street dog… It was heart-breaking.”

After cranking up her network of animal-lover friends, Patel got in touch with Thane resident Vini Kalgutkar who has taken it upon herself to facilitate adoptions of stray animals by helping them find homes.

After much scouting around, Kalgutkar got a few requests for Bonnie.

“A lady in India wanted to keep her at her farmhouse. But Bonnie’s grown up in a home environment and so we explored this family from abroad that had shown interest,” said Kalgutkar. “We know the American family and things worked out. We kept sending them photos, videos and regular updates on Bonnie...And they agreed to open their hearts and home to her.”

Miles away from Bonnie’s current abode, the family of Trish Petrilli is waiting for her to-be-pet in Missoula city, Montana. “We happened to see a post regarding Bonnie and it touched our hearts… We could not get Bonnie’s story out of our thoughts, so we just felt she was the right choice of a hiking companion for me,” wrote Trish, who enjoys hiking in the mountains, in a message to TOI.

Already preparations are on in full swing to transport Bonnie to the US. “Of the total cost of Rs 1.1 lakh, Rs 27,000 was chipped in from within the country,” said Kalgutkar.

“We are now scouting for a volunteer who is about to fly to Washington DC, Seattle or Salt Lake City and will chaperone Bonnie on the flight and hand her over to the adoptive family. Once someone agrees to it, Bonnie can board the flight.”

At Bonnie’s Andheri home, Patel admits she has mixed feelings about her companion’s impending departure. “Of course, the thought of separating from Bonnie worries me,” admits Patel. “But my only solace is that she’s going to have a happy home and a good life ahead.”