An Angel by Choice

A guest essay by Shubhli Bhalla.

How far will a kind human being go to help those in need? That is the question that came to my mind when I met Anuradha Mishra Jain at her shelter, Hope for the Speechless Soul.

A homemaker who runs a small dog shelter at the same time, Anuradha has dedicated her life to Delhi's stray dogs — the ones born on roads, who live a tough life of neglect and die painful deaths from lack of treatment or the cruelty of some humans. Beaten, poisoned, starved, run over, injured, paralyzed. For such babies, Anuradha is mercy personified. She loves them, feeds them, protects them, and even buries the dead with her own hands, giving them dignity in death. She never calls them "dogs" — they are all her furry babies.

Her mornings start at 6 am with feeding some 70 stray dogs and puppies on the streets of her area. Alongside, she carries her medicine box and first-aid kit, giving on-the-spot treatment to those in need — mostly hit-and-run victims. Then she heads to her own shelter, where the SOS cases come: medicines, injections, drips, physiotherapy, oil massages. When a rescue call comes, day or night, it is Anuradha who rushes to the spot. Evenings bring another round of feeding and treatment. She also organizes vaccination drives, going to every nook and corner to find strays and give them 8-in-1 or anti-rabies shots.

Weather cannot stop her, and neither can her own health. "I do not have time to be sick," she says. "I have too many babies to look after." Sometimes she cannot recall when she last ate. She is vegan by choice, shunning everything that is a product of cruelty toward animals.

Her journey began by accident — her bike skidded outside a pet shop, and to pass the time she went inside and started playing with a very sick German shepherd pup. It was clear the shopkeeper had no intention of paying for treatment. She took Skattu home and spent a month rushing from vet to vet. Today he is a healthy 8-year-old, fiercely possessive of his rescuer. Then she rescued three more strays and adopted them; her 15-year-old daughter Simran shares the passion and supports her fully.

For some dogs, roadside treatment was not enough — dust infected wounds and saline drips were impossible to give. She yearned for her own shelter. The turning point was Coco, a hit-and-run victim found on the verge of death. She transferred him to another shelter for enclosed care — and became adamant about building her own. She took loans, and with the help of an anonymous donor who promised lifelong support, she opened it. Senior veterinarian Dr. Preet Pal Singh saw her dedication and offered to treat all her dogs for free: "The cause was such that I had to be a part of it — charging a fee for my services was unthinkable."

Soon a young volunteer, Rohit, joined her — chasing hurt, scared, disoriented dogs through the streets, muzzling and carrying them. And thus began Hope for the Speechless Soul.

Her shelter is full of happy babies. Tara and Sitara were barely a month old when they came under a road roller and were paralyzed waist down. Everyone suggested putting them to sleep. Anuradha refused. With care and exercise, both girls now run on all fours. "This 1% may be nothing for others, but for my furry baby it is hope — and the rest 99% I am willing to give."

Princess arrived as a month-old semi-paralyzed pup found in a dump; her condition was irreversible, but the stinking, bleeding mass of fur transformed into a living princess. Pari and her brother Casper, two blind babies left at the shelter, were treated for a month — Casper regained perfect eyesight, and Pari can see 10%, enough not to bump into walls.

Anuradha also created a herbal oil she uses on dogs with mange and other skin conditions — first tried on Gabru, a furry baby abandoned by the roadside with fractured back legs and severe skin disease. Months later, Gabru is happy and healed; he still visits the shelter every morning and evening for his treats.

Moti is the latest addition — his skin looked as if he had been boiled alive, with pus and blood oozing everywhere. But as always, Anuradha works her healing touch, and we wait for the day his fur grows back.

She is often called "the crazy dog lady," and her passion has been ridiculed; some have even been physically abusive to scare her. But she has not given up — with the support of her husband Akshat, another dog lover. Asked when she last saw a movie or went shopping, she laughed: "Every moment I am here with my furry family only. This is my calling."

Anuradha is currently awaiting an urgent surgery, but she has agreed to it only on the condition that she can recover at the shelter — not away from her furry babies.

If you would like to help — with medicine, dog food, cages, beds, blankets, or funds — please visit her page on Facebook at Hope for the Speechless Souls, where donation details and the shelter's contact information are listed.

Angels do not always have wings, a halo, and a magic wand. Sometimes they appear with mercy, goodness, and kindness in their heart. God bless you, Anuradha.