Eight dogs. Eight stories.
Each one completely their own.
Rescued from the streets. Raised in homes. Trained with patience.
Every dog carries a name chosen with intention. Drawn from Sanskrit, Swahili, Latin, Italian, Korean, and Japanese, each name means something - a first, a beginning, something precious. Names from across the world for dogs that will change lives in India
Follow their journey
Ádi
Sanskrit for "the first" - and the first to find his place beside you. He is "Velcro with fur."
Never far from Mum. Never wants to be.
Ádi is happiest when he knows exactly where his favourite person is. If you are moving, he is moving. If you stop, he will settle quietly beside you. He looks the part - curved tail, pointed ears and a lean build. A textbook Indie. But appearances can be deceiving. Ádi is a complete softy who loves cuddles, his auto rickshaw ride to the training centre, and long walks with Padma.
Hana
Korean for "one" - because there is truly only one Hana. She is "Chaos in a collar."
There is only one Hana. She makes sure of that.
At Rathnamma's home, Hana is always into something, always finding an angle. Sister to Nala, and nothing alike. That energy translates well into training - she is confident, bold, and throws herself at new tasks without hesitation. Her favourite thing is a car ride. Her least favourite thing is when the car ride ends. Rathnamma and the training team have developed an ongoing collection of tricks to get her out of the car. Hana sees through all of them.
Prima
Italian for "first" - curious about everything, bothered by nothing. She is "Wonder without brakes."
Curious about everything. Bothered by nothing.
At Mangala's home, Prima is curious about everything. Nothing escapes her attention - she takes it all in, calmly and completely. Every dog she meets is a potential friend. Her favourite pastime is sitting on the balcony, watching the world go by through the gap in the railing.
Zuri
Swahili for 'beautiful.' Always the first to know what's happening and where. She is 'Radar with whiskers.'
Professional eavesdropper. Always the first to know.
Living with Girijamma, Zuri has grown from a handful bursting with energy into a dog who loves to work and loves to think. Littermate to Una and Jin - though you would never guess it from looking at them. She never misses a word of any conversation nearby. You can see it in the way she cocks her head. She is, without question, a spy.
Nia
Swahili for "purpose" - hers begins and ends with snacks. She is "Snacks before strategy."
Will do almost anything for a treat. Which turns out to be very useful.
Nia lives with Bharti and is a foodie of the highest order. Sister to Prima. She will go to extraordinary lengths for a treat, which makes training both very easy and occasionally very difficult. She is also something of a beauty queen - people stop to admire her regularly and ask for her breeder's number. We smile and say "secret."
Nala
Swahili for "first drink of water" - joyful, fast, and impossible to tire out. She is "Turbo with tail."
If there is space to run, she will find it.
Nala lives with Sukanya and treats every open patch of ground as an invitation for zoomies. One moment she is perfectly still. The next, she is racing joyful circles around everyone else. She is sharp - the kind of dog that picks up a new behaviour before you have finished showing it to her, then repeats it endlessly just to make sure you noticed. Sister to Hana. Her other great love is belly rubs. Endless ones. She will wait you out.
Una
Latin for "one" - serious on the outside, gentle on the inside. She is "Bodyguard with butterflies."
Looks fearless. Feels safer if Mum comes too.
People often ask if Una is a police dog. Lean, focused, and serious-looking, she has the bearing of someone who means business. She lives with Nanda and is gentle, though. Long walks are her favourite thing, and the outside world holds her attention completely. Once she starts training, there is no stopping her.
Jin
Japanese for "precious" - and he knows it very well. He is "Hoover with heart."
Every meal is memorable. Every cuddle even more so.
At Pallavi's home, Jin behaves entirely like a puppy despite being a big, strong male. Littermate to Zuri and Una - and the most surprised you will ever be by a family resemblance. Cuddles, massages, general adoration - he will take all of it. The moment he sees treats, he starts cycling through his entire repertoire of tricks, one after another, watching carefully to see which one earns the reward.