The Father of 735 Dogs
Dear friends around the world,
I have always been a strong advocate of animal welfare, rescue and vegetarianism; it breaks my heart to see animals suffer. I do my utmost to ensure all animals that come into my environment have a happy, healthy and harm-free life. Animals are sentient beings with feelings and they should not be punished for our greed and selfishness.
I came across this article randomly and wanted to republish it to let everyone know about this wonderful human being, Mr Rakesh Shukla. He is a certified software engineer and he could spend most of his time on work to make more material wealth for himself but instead, he uses his time and resources to help these poor animals that nobody wants.
I deeply rejoice in Mr Shukla’s deeds; he’s truly an inspiration to all of us. May his work continue to save more lives and further inspire more people to follow in his footsteps.
Tsem Rinpoche
The Man Who Looks After 735 Dogs
19 December 2016 | India
Rakesh Shukla is a software engineer.
Rakesh Shukla is a software engineer who’s found his life’s calling in looking after dogs that no-one wants, writes the BBC’s Geeta Pandey in Bangalore.
The car pulled up outside a dusty farmhouse near the capital of the southern Indian state of Karnataka and suddenly dogs were everywhere, yelping and barking, jumping with joy.
Within seconds, they were all over Rakesh Shukla, nuzzling him and licking him, and Mr Shukla was as delighted to see them. He spoke to them, patted some, scratched one behind the ears, and lofted another onto his shoulder.
Then he gave me a tour of his three and a half acre farm. At last count, Mr Shukla had 735 dogs.
Mr Shukla said there were 735 dogs on the farm.
He only takes in dogs that have no owner.
There are Labradors on the farm, there are Golden Retrievers, Great Danes, Beagles, Dachshunds, Rottweilers, Saint Bernards and even a pug. There are hundreds of mongrels too.
Most of the dogs are strays, the others have been abandoned by their owners. The latest arrival was a group of 22 pedigreed dogs whose owner, a city businessman, was shot dead recently by criminals.
“I’m the last stop for these dogs. They are no longer cute and cuddly. Many are sick and no longer wanted,” said Mr Shukla, 45.
Affectionately known as the “Dog Father”, he calls the dogs his babies and him their “papa”.
His first dog was Kavya, the female Golden Retriever.
The farm is an ideal place for dogs.
Mr Shukla, who founded a software company along with his wife 10 years ago, spends three to four days every week on the farm, taking care of his canines.
“I had worked in Delhi, in the United States and then set up my own company in Bangalore,” he said. “Life was all about buying big cars and expensive watches and living a fancy life. I had travelled and seen the world many times over, but then I was not happy.”
Then Kavya came into his life: a beautiful 45-day-old Golden Retriever that he fell hopelessly in love with. It was in June 2009, and Mr Shukla remembers clearly the day he brought her home.
“When we got home, she went and hid in a corner. I got down to her level on the floor and I was calling out to her. She was looking at me, she was scared, but I could see she wanted to trust me,” he said.
“And that’s when the moment happened – it was a physical feeling, my hair was tingling, I could feel a warm glow. And I’ve never needed to ask myself that question – ‘why am I here?’ – again after that.”
The farm employs 10 people.
The canines get through 200kg of chicken and another 200kg of rice daily.
Mr Shukla’s second dog, Lucky, came to him three months later when he rescued her from the streets. “It had been raining for 12-13 days, she was wet and miserable, so I brought her home too,” he said.
Over the coming days and weeks, whenever he met a stray or abandoned dog, he brought it home. Initially he kept them there but when his wife protested, he moved some of them to the office, where the top floor was turned into a home for dogs.
In 2012, as the pack grew, Mr Shukla bought land in Doddballapur town and set up the farm – a haven for dogs that are old, ailing or simply unwanted.
Mr Shukla said that whenever he sees a dog that’s abandoned or sick, he brings it home.
He has taken in many dogs that were abandoned by their owners after they fall sick.
The farm is designed for its canine residents, with lots of open spaces for them to run around and ponds to swim in, and there’s double fencing to keep them safe.
Every time we entered an enclosure, a cacophony of barks greeted us.
The farm employs about 10 people, including trained veterinary assistants, to look after the dogs, cook for them and feed them. The dogs are fed 200kg of chicken and another 200kg of rice daily and many of the sick ones need regular medicines and attention.
A St Bernard suffering from a kidney problem needs daily drips to survive.
There are many three-legged dogs at the farm.
The daily cost of running the centre is 45,000 to 50,000 rupees ($663; £532 to $737; £592), according to Mr Shukla, who said he provided 93% of the funds.
In the past year though, he has run into problems with some animal activists, who have demanded that they be allowed onto the farm. He has also faced complaints that he is creating public unrest by keeping so many dogs. There have also been demands that he shut down the farm.
He has refused to concede.
“I’ve made a pact with my dogs,” he said. “We will part only when one of us kicks the bucket.”
Source: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-38303320
For more interesting information:
- Marc Ching Shows Us The Way
- Dogs in Tibetan Monasteries
- Rescued Cats and Dogs Only
- A kind woman
- Give Them A Home
- Compassion in action
- Hours Before Death
- Guess what the FBI is doing now?
- How brutal
- We are their only world
- Rinpoche saving doggy at 3am on the highway
- Rinpoche feeding stray dogs
- Help Sasha please
- The honourable Mr. Pak Mie
- Love & care touches everyone
- Dog Day and Sara….. heartbreaking..
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Thank you for the amazing article sharing of Mr. Rakesh Shukla, a father of 735 dogs. It is a completely different style of hobby of an engineer spending time adopting dogs. Dogs make good companions because of the friendship, unconditional love, loyalty and protection they give.
People like Rakesh need to be appreciated because he’s been able to give love and care to the ‘needy’. It definitely involves a huge responsibilities with a lot of effort as well enjoying great experience.
Animals show love for humans! Cow, lions, apes, dogs, bears, parrots and more can all be very affectionate and show surprising emotions when it comes to expressing their love for people. An emotional animals hugging humans video.
https://video.tsemtulku.com/videouploads/comment-1546455946.mp4
H.E. the 25th Tsem Rinpoche loves animals and is passionate against their harm, torture, and abuse.
The few minutes a day we spend on social media creating awareness for animals who cannot speak is purely spiritual and humanistic practice because we are trying to alleviate pain from another sentient beings and that makes us more spiritual, and that makes us more spiritual and more humane.
I salute Mr Shukla vision and compassion for abandoned dogs.
As Rinpoche mentioned many times, animals are voiceless, they cannot do much for us, and may never be able to thank you sufficiently as well.
So it can be considered quite a thankless job, and furthermore you also attract ire of neighbours, local council, the government and animal activist who instead of doing more, gives you grief. Kudos to Mr Shukla may many more animal activist arise to help abandoned animals.
There is also a facebook page of Mr Rakesh Shukla’s work.
https://www.facebook.com/dogsofvosdsanctuary/
735 dogs?????? WOW. Thats a lot more than I’ve ever heard of. And he does it on his own as well.. Truly amazing. The world needs more people like this. People who will make a difference and do the right things. People who will help those who need it. In this case its dogs.
I have always been an animal person. And to drive on the roads and see the countless number of stray dogs on the road really saddens me. I wish I could do something about it. But being young I lack the resources to really make a difference. But Mr Shukla really has made that difference. He took 735 dogs off the streets and cared for them like his own children. For that he has my respect.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this inspiring real life story of a Bodhisattva. His compassion towards animals are beyond doubt. To be taking care of 700 over dogs are some feat. He is one who is genuinely care for the dogs. All using his very own expenses and he showed us exactly what is “Love without Agenda” because by being so kind to the dogs, they will not say thank you and will not be able to repay him. I think he has shown a great example to everyone of us by being more kind to people around us and love without agenda. He is one Bodhisattva really for me!
Rinpoche has once said, “What makes us good humans is not how to abuse animals, but how much we allow them to live and be happy.” Mr. Rakesh Shukla, the father to 735 dogs, is truly an inspirational and classic example for all good and kind human beings to follow, particularly compassionate practitioners of Buddhism to abide in! Just like humans, animals do feel happy to be treated with so much kindness and love!!! It’s so wonderful to see happy animals “really smile so delightfully”, as these dogs do , at their master! Mr. Shukla seems to have found his own true happiness too at long last, after a life full of fanciful living and wildness. He managed to help these desperate dogs to find a real kind home, food and happiness; and last but not least, companionship and hope! Just as Rinpoche has always taught and shown us in all his pure wisdom of teachings, that, whatever we do with great faith, perseverance, kindness and deep efforts, overtime we will be given what we wish for and need! Thank you Rinpoche for the kind sharing, and for providing the “light” of wisdom onto ourselves and other beings! Om Mani Padme Hung.
It is really heartwarming to see such a man taking care of over 7 hundred dogs as if they were his children.
The most impressive thing is that he is taking care of the dogs at his own expenses.
The world needs more people like Mr Shukla who despite various challenges does what is within his reach unlike other people who just talk and talk but never get anything done.
I really look up to Mr Shukla for what he has done despite many obstacles, this is just proof that willpower is the strongest force that can propel you into benefiting others.
The world needs more people like Mr Shukla. What he did is not just saving animals, but it also shows the world the meaning of generosity and caring especially for animals who can’t even say “Thank You” to us.
It reminds me of a person who also lives around Bentong Malaysia where she also loves and takes care of a lot of dog. She would personally feed the dogs and make sure they eat. The reason is she wants to know why the dog doesn’t eat, and she would investigate and make sure the dog is healthy.
May this world have more and more people who would be kind to animals.
Wonderful to see Mr Shukla, a certified software engineer, for his kindness and generosity in spending money and time to take care all these 735 dogs that nobody wants. I believe that he might have practiced the bodhisattva path in many previous lives, and therefore he has strong imprint in this life to save many lives of animals.
Thank you Rinpoche for this sharing and we should try to protect animals from unnecessary suffering and death that were caused by humans. If we can’t protect them at least we don’t hurt them.
Mr Shukla’s compassion to help the dogs is inspiring. His tenacity of keeping the farm regardless of the challenges reminds me of Mother Theresa who saves children on the streets. All living beings have emotions. Perhaps not in the same capacity as human beings but nevertheless, they can experience suffering.
As such, I don’t believe we should inflict suffering on to others. A step forward would be to relieve the suffering of others through whatever means we are capable of. Every drop of effort counts especially when you’re the one being helped.
Mr Shukla is one of the many people who go out of his way for the sake of others. It brings him joy that no amount of material wealth and indulgence can match.
Mr Rakesh is truly a hero! If it wasn’t for him, these dogs would have ended up on the streets, living a life of starvation and terror. The existence of people like Mr Rakesh is to remind us of how selfish we are that we want something when it’s in good condition and later when it’s not working well anymore, we throw them out like a rubbish.
Animals are not objects where we can use and tear, they are living beings who have feelings too. Nothing is permanent, humans grow old and will eventually die too. How will we feel if we were to be abandoned when we’re sick and old? It’s definitely not a good experience to have, so why do we do this to the animals? The unsung heroes like Mr Rakesh are truly an inspiration to me because they genuinely do care about the animals’ welfare and most importantly, they ask for nothing in return.
This story of Rakesh Shukla and his 735 dogs is a really heartwarming story. As a person who founded his own software company, Rakesh is able to have a comfortable and luxurious lifestyle from the salary from his job. He would be able to buy luxurious items, expensive cars and have a fancy meal everyday but instead of doing that, he chooses to devote time and money into rescuing dogs that people no longer want and taking them into his shelter to be taken cared of.
I really admire Rakesh’s courage and selflessness to have built up a shelter for abandoned dogs to live in. Not only does it require money, it also requires the utmost care, patience and passion to be put into the shelter in order for the lives of the rescued dogs to have a safe and comfortable place to live.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this lovely story.
Such love and compassion for dogs from Rakesh Shukla. From the love of one dog, he expands this to so very many more. A shining example of humanity at it’s best, all about saving a life from further suffering.
Thank you for sharing such a beautiful person and cause.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing the inspiring article about Mr. Rakesh Shukla who takes care of 735 unwanted dogs rescued from the public. Although Mr. Rakesh Shukla has achieved the financial freedom and gained much possessions from his self-founded software company, he does not mind to dirty his hands and working himself all the way to bring relief, happiness, peace of mind, compassion and parental love to all his furry ‘babies’. Everything carried out by Mr. Rakesh Shukla in his dogs farm are truly based selflessness and generosity fill with sincere compassion, which all of us should practise these good qualities if we want the ultimate happiness for people around us as well as ourselves.
May this article and the good example set by Mr. Rakesh Shukla will inspire and motivate more people to be kind to animals and not to eat them as food. Animals are equal to human beings as they can sense and feel similarly like human but they just do not speak human’s languages.
With folded hands,
kin hoe
It is very inspiring to read the story of Rakesh Shukla who instantly realised his calling in life and never looked back ever since. His devotion to care for the canines despite hefty maintenance cost and protest from activist or the public since 2009 showed that he truly cares for the canines and is truthful to his words “till death do us part”. It is also an example for us all that if we put our mind and heart to it, we will be able to do something for the helpless. May many more people be inspired by Rakesh Shukla and take action to help. Thank you Rinpoche for this encouraging sharing.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this wonderful news with us. I must said this is obsulately a selfless act as I read through the post it really warm my heart as a animals lover is very heart breaking to see all these stray dogs and cats suffer so much every single days so whenever I see a stray dog or cat I will try to feed them I must said I really admired Mr Shukla for having his own farm they be able to take care so many needy dogs I hope one days we Kecharian can create the cause to have our own animals farm .
Thank you Rinpoche, for sharing this heartwarming story of such a rare and compassionate person as Mr Rakesh Shukla. For Mr Shukla , life had been about buying big cars and expensive watches and living a fancy life. He had travelled and seen the world many times over, but yet he was not happy.
Then Kavya, a beautiful 45-day-old Golden Retriever , came into his life and he fell “hopelessly in love with her”. She was scared and yet wanted to trust him. It was at that moment of encounter that he felt a warm glow in his heart and he reached out to her. That heart has expanded in love to include 735 dogs. He is now father to 735 dogs, all stray and abandoned dogs that he had rescued.
A hands-on care-giver, he bought a big piece land and set up a farm – a haven for dogs that are old, ailing or simply unwanted. To show his genuine love and care, the farm is designed specially for the safety and comfort of its canine residents, with lots of open spaces for them to run around and ponds to swim in, and there’s double fencing to keep them safe. He has hired ten people to take care of the dogs . These ten include trained veterinary assistants, to look after the dogs, cook for them and feed them. He says he has made a pact with his dogs.”We will part only when one of us kicks the bucket.”
It is rare to come across such a lovely person. How wonderfully humane and compassionate he is.
What an awe-inspiring story! Mr Rakesh Shukla is a saviour for the unwanted and abandoned dogs. He has found his life’s calling and the happiness that comes along with it. Everybody is expected to have a formal education, major in something and then work in that area of course. So most of us go through the motions. Then we may find there’s no meaning. When we answer to a higher calling, we begin to look outwards and we do bigger things. When there is a higher purpose, life becomes more meaningful and happiness sets in.
Those who want to keep pets should think twice. It is a responsibility. The cute and cuddly puppy/kitten will not remain like that forever. It takes a lot of love, time and money, almost like raising their own kid. They get old and sick, just like their owners. If they take a pet when it’s cute and then abandon it when it has outgrown its cuteness, it is totally irresponsible and heartless of them. They should not have taken a pet in the first place.
This story of Rakesh Shukla is amazing. He has saved 735 life so far. People like Rakesh is most respectful, not because they are rich, but because they are able to give love and care to others who is in need. For those who are racist, discrimination against other religion, terrorist etc should look at what Rakesh is doing, perhaps joint him in saving more life. There will be more meaning to it rather than creating hates and upheaval in our society.
Wow….so wonderful of this kindhearted man Rakesh Shukla taking care so many strays and abandoned dogs.Rakesh Shukla is an engineer who’s found his life’s calling in looking after strays and sick dogs.He found true happiness after living a fancy life. Not easy after all going through up and down he managed it feeling very happy.Mr Shukla is s truly an inspiration and an example to all of us.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this inspiring post and sharing those pictures .
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this lovely article. He has the heart of a Bodhisattva. Not many people can take care of 735 dogs. Don’t talk about 700 over, some not even able to take care of one dog. Sometimes people around us just like to talk, comment and complain, but as long as we follow our heart, we know that we didn’t do anything wrong, we don’t need to care about what others say. May Mr. Shukla’s work of taking care of the dog free from obstacle and able to get more funding. And may the people stop complaining but start adopting the dogs. _/\_
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this article about Mr Shukla. He is such a kind-hearted person. I think no one would ever take in 700 over stray and sick dogs. To me, why would the locals want to complain about Mr Shukla? He is doing nothing wrong but good. If each of the locals were to adopt a dog from Mr Shukla’s farm, then he would have lesser dogs in his farm and would not cause any problems to the public. I pray that Mr Shukla will continue his good works and may he have all the resources to continue his good works.
With folded palms,
Vivian
Many people has been chasing all their life for lots of money, big car, big houses and good life that they think if they have all these, they will be the most happy person in life. But they didn’t realise that material chasing will only bring them more suffering cos the chanse never end. Mr Shukla is lucky and has realised that those material gain won’t bring him happiness.
Mr Shukla has found his happiness and purpose in life by rescuing stray, old and abandoned dog. Is really amazing that he can take care of 735 dogs. May Mr Shukla story can inspire more people to help those poor animal.
Thank you Rinpoche and the blog team for sharing this beautiful story of a very kind man.
Most of the people in society believe that we are born to live a good life with good careers, big houses, expensive cars, branded items, high class restaurants, and ability to own any nice material things that we desired. I didn’t own all that but I do understand happiness doesn’t come from how much you have but how much you give.
I respect people like Mr Shukla very much, for going out of their way to help those in needs. It’s not easy to run animal shelters/farms at all as it’s an endless circle where the problems will not stop coming no matter how capable we are. However, it’s not the point to focus on the problems but to embrace the smiles and happy faces of the rescued animals that at least, their pain and suffering are relieved for a moment because of our efforts.
I hope there will be more people taking noble steps like Mr Shukla to dedicate their life for others especially for those who can’t speak for themselves. Thank you Mr Shukla.
Thank you.