Puppy Yoga Retreat
How everything started..
It all started with my yoga training in India in 2018. My school was located in a remote part of Rishikesh with a large garden, where the street dogs in the area quickly paid us a curious visit. I quickly lost my heart to the small pack of about nine dogs, of which about five were puppies.
It all started with my yoga training in India in 2018. My school was located in a remote part of Rishikesh with a large garden, where the street dogs in the area quickly paid us a curious visit. I quickly lost my heart to the small pack of about nine dogs, of which about five were puppies.
Jeden Sonntag ging ich zum Kiosk ein paar Straßen weiter und kaufte einen neuen 10kg Sack für „meine“ Hunde.
Every Sunday I went to the kiosk a few streets away and bought a new 10kg bag for “my” dogs.
I fed the dogs every evening and often stayed with them for a long time, giving them their daily cuddles.
I fed the dogs every evening and often stayed with them for a long time, giving them their daily cuddles.
I quickly realized that life on the street was bitterly hard for them, despite the attention. One puppy broke his leg and became increasingly thin as he was pushed away by the other dogs while eating. We had tried to contact an animal welfare organization and a vet, but unfortunately without success. One day the little puppy stopped coming.
I reproached myself for this and thought that I had simply disobeyed the rule about not taking dogs into the room. I was sure that I could have saved the little puppy if he had been safe in my room and I could have fed him in peace until he regained his strength. I made a promise to myself that day: If I could ever save another dog’s life, I would do everything I could to do so.
And six months later, the time had come. On my second visit to India, I saw a small, half-starved puppy. I tried to feed it, but it was pushed away by the other dogs. It was clear to me that she wouldn’t stand a chance on the street alone and would have starved to death in a few days.
So I went out on the street that evening and looked for her. Miraculously, she was sitting alone on the street just a few meters away from my accommodation and greeted me with a weak wag of her tail. The owner of the accommodation was on the other side of the road and I couldn’t have taken the little puppy with me unobserved. I walked a few meters further so that I was out of sight and the little dog followed me. I walked down the stairs and turned around to see if she was following me. But she was too weak to go down the stairs. I went back up the stairs and in an unguarded moment, I picked her up and made my way to my room. When I unlocked the door to my room and brought her into my room, she wagged her tail excitedly. I put a bowl of water and a bowl of dry food out for her. She chewed on a few hard chunks for a long time, but she was too weak to chew them. Luckily I had three tins of wet food from Germany with me and I opened the first one for her. She didn’t eat much, but at least she ate a little.
And six months later, the time had come. On my second visit to India, I saw a small, half-starved puppy. I tried to feed it, but it was pushed away by the other dogs. It was clear to me that she wouldn’t stand a chance on the street alone and would have starved to death in a few days.
So I went out on the street that evening and looked for her. Miraculously, she was sitting alone on the street just a few meters away from my accommodation and greeted me with a weak wag of her tail. The owner of the accommodation was on the other side of the road and I couldn’t have taken the little puppy with me unobserved. I walked a few meters further so that I was out of sight and the little dog followed me. I walked down the stairs and turned around to see if she was following me. But she was too weak to go down the stairs. I went back up the stairs and in an unguarded moment, I picked her up and made my way to my room. When I unlocked the door to my room and brought her into my room, she wagged her tail excitedly. I put a bowl of water and a bowl of dry food out for her. She chewed on a few hard chunks for a long time, but she was too weak to chew them. Luckily I had three tins of wet food from Germany with me and I opened the first one for her. She didn’t eat much, but at least she ate a little.
And not only that, she then nestled her head against my belly – what a lovely feeling!
She then curled up on my carpet and of course she was allowed to stay with me for the night. The first night of many.
She then curled up on my carpet and of course she was allowed to stay with me for the night. The first night of many.
Over time, she became stronger and more active. While she couldn’t even take a single step for the first few days, after a few days she started playing excitedly with a chewing bone. I knew it was time for a name for her and I called her Daisy.
Daisy was now outside every day and played with her other two siblings. They didn’t just stay in the garden of the yoga school, but ran across the busy streets more and more often. From that moment on, I knew that I had to find a safe home for them as soon as possible. I couldn’t take them to Germany yet as their vaccinations weren’t ready and unfortunately it’s a very time-consuming process to get all the necessary papers.
Daisy was now outside every day and played with her other two siblings. They didn’t just stay in the garden of the yoga school, but ran across the busy streets more and more often. From that moment on, I knew that I had to find a safe home for them as soon as possible. I couldn’t take them to Germany yet as their vaccinations weren’t ready and unfortunately it’s a very time-consuming process to get all the necessary papers.
An animal welfare organization had put me in touch with a foster family in Delhi, so I organized a cab driver who was willing to drive a small dog and me nine hours in a cab to Delhi. A little melancholy, I let Daisy say goodbye to her pack of dogs and off we went to Delhi. Daisy had never been in a car before and the drive was not good for her. She was visibly nauseous and clung tightly to me for the first few hours.
After a few hours and a little nap, she enjoyed the ride and looked curiously out of the window. It was already night time when we arrived at the foster home and Daisy didn’t realize at the time that we wouldn’t see each other again for another three long months.
The wait was hard, especially at first. After a few weeks, the animal welfare organization sent me some long-awaited photos of my Daisy. She was visibly doing well and was much loved by her foster family.
After a few hours and a little nap, she enjoyed the ride and looked curiously out of the window. It was already night time when we arrived at the foster home and Daisy didn’t realize at the time that we wouldn’t see each other again for another three long months.
The wait was hard, especially at first. After a few weeks, the animal welfare organization sent me some long-awaited photos of my Daisy. She was visibly doing well and was much loved by her foster family.
Now I had to find a flight sponsor to take my Daisy to Germany. Once again, the animal welfare organization helped me with their contacts and a woman came forward who took my Daisy to Hamburg.
She finally landed there after a long flight, where my father picked her up. The reunion was one of the happiest days of my life. I was afraid that my Daisy wouldn’t recognize me straight away, but I was proved wrong. The welcome was exuberant!
She finally landed there after a long flight, where my father picked her up. The reunion was one of the happiest days of my life. I was afraid that my Daisy wouldn’t recognize me straight away, but I was proved wrong. The welcome was exuberant!
Today, my Daisy lives with my father in the country and has her own garden. Our neighbor has two shelter dogs of his own and the three of them get to play together every day.
Whenever I think of my Daisy, I realize how much love and happiness she has brought into my life. With the opening of my retreat, I hope that more people can find their heart dog and always live with the certainty that they have given a little soul a beautiful life. Your dog will thank you – always.
Whenever I think of my Daisy, I realize how much love and happiness she has brought into my life. With the opening of my retreat, I hope that more people can find their heart dog and always live with the certainty that they have given a little soul a beautiful life. Your dog will thank you – always.