Let me tell you about Jalebi - a street dog from India who found her way into the hearts and home of an Australian couple. It's a tale that'll make you believe in the power of kindness and determination.
It all started in Patiala, a city in northern India. Arun and Alicia, Aussies living there for work, noticed this street dog outside their house. She would always get attacked by other street dogs leaving her with bites and scars. They couldn't just stand by and watch.
"We started leaving out some food, giving her a few pats here and there," Arun told me. "Before we knew it, she'd claimed our doorstep as her spot. Guess she decided we were her humans."
When winter rolled in, Alicia couldn't bear to see Jalebi (that's what they named her) shivering outside. She invited her in and that was that. Over the next few months, this cute Indie wormed her way deep into their hearts. They knew they had to adopt her.
Arun and Alicia's time in India was coming to an end, but the thought of leaving Jalebi behind? No way. They were determined to bring her to Australia, no matter what.
Let me tell you, getting a dog from India to Australia is no walk in the park. Because of rabies risks, Jalebi had to do quarantine in a "safe" country first; either France or Singapore. So began this wild, globetrotting adventure.
First stop: Delhi. Jalebi spent a couple months in Delhi in a nice boarding place. Then, with help from their friend Pankaj and an NGO, she jetted off to France. The plan was for her to chill there for half a year before heading to Australia.
But you know how plans go, right? Australia's quarantine was all booked up, paperwork dragging on forever. So the couple decided to bring her to New Zealand instead. Alicia moved to New Zealand for six months to stay with her mum where Jalebi was and look after her.
Finally, in June 2024, Jalebi touched down Melbourne. No more quarantine needed - she'd done her time in Kiwi-land. The reunion? That wasn’t a dry eye in sight.
These days, Jalebi's living her best life. She's a real character - bit of a live-in lover, always giving them grief about early morning walks. But once she's out, she's the neighbourhood social butterfly, always up for a pat from anyone passing by.
Arun and Alicia admit it hasn't all been smooth sailing. "Jalebi's still a bit skittish around other dogs and new people," they told me. "We're taking it slow, letting her settle in at her own pace."
You should see her when one of them tries to leave without her, though. Full-on tantrums, I'm talking proper drama queen behaviour.
Looking back, they don't sugar-coat it. "Taking on a dog, especially from overseas, it's a massive commitment," Arun said. "Your whole life changes. But for us, it was worth every bit of hassle."The couple spent over 15,000 USD which is roughly 12,45,000 INR to bring Jalebi from Patialia to Melbourne.
"They're big on adoption now, especially for countries like India where strays are everywhere. If more people opened their homes, it could make a real difference," Alicia reckons.
Watching Jalebi now, curled up on their couch without a care in the world, it's hard to imagine her as that scared little street dog. Just goes to show what a bit of love and a whole lot of determination can do.
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