Sneha and Maddie sharing some last moments together
Editor’s Note:
In part 1 of Maddie’s story, we met this beautiful street dog who was rounded up with a group of other females on the streets of Kathmandu, Nepal, to be spayed at Sneha’s Care. Maddie turned out to be an exceptionally friendly and charming girl. As her group of females were being collected 4 days after their arrival, to be returned to their old life, Maddie escaped the roundup and ran to play with the other 100 dogs at the shelter. Then she returned to Sneha’s staff doing the round-up. She joyfully ran about, and at this point Sneha told her crew “Not that one.” Hillary Kloetlzi, a visiting American volunteer, who runs Nepal Street Animal Rescue, determined at that moment to find a forever home for Maddie. After almost 2 months of seeking, Hillary finally found Maddie’s new mom…in New York, USA!
Tomorrow, May 16, 2017, Maddie starts her long journey to New York. We will be following her flight in real time on the Dog International Facebook page – join us as we follow Maddie across continents and an ocean into the open arms of her new momma. In part 3 of Maddie’s story, her new family will share with us how she has adjusted to her new life in a different country with all the new sights, smells, sounds and experiences, 7,000 miles away from her old life on the streets of Kathmandu.
May 16, 8:55 p.m.
Maddie is HOME!
Maddie and Amy getting acquainted on a big puffy chair on a warm spring evening.
Maddie is getting some pats from her new mom, Amy.
Maddie is safe at home with her new mom. She’s in good spirits, and in much need of a bath. She and her new mom, Amy, were relaxing earlier on a big puffy chair outside on this warm spring evening as seen in these photos. Mission accomplished. 🙂
May 16, 10:20 p.m.
Maddie is on the Final Leg of Her Journey – From Seoul to New York!
Sneha and Maddie saying final good-byes.
Maddie is on the final, but also longest leg of her journey at this moment. Her flight left Seoul, South Korea 1 hour ago and is en route to New York, USA. She was reported to be well upon arrival in Seoul. Stay tuned for her arrival in New York tomorrow morning at 10:48 EST (New York time) and her meeting with her new mom and dad, who eagerly await for their sweet girl. Safe travels, little one! You can follow her flight in real time here: https://nl.flightaware.com/live/flight/KAL81
May 16, 10:30 a.m.
Maddie is on the First Leg of Her Flight – First Stop: Seoul, South Korea
Sneha and Maddie saying their last good-byes at the airport in Kathmandu, Nepal.
Maddie’s first flight, from Tribhuvan Airport in Kathmandu, Nepal, to Seoul, South Korea, took off at approximately 10:40 a.m. EST (New York time). This leg of her journey is a little over 5 hours. She has a 5-hour layover in Seoul, then her next flight to New York, is a little over 12 hours. A very long journey for a very brave girl!
May 15, 2:20 p.m. (EST)
In Maddie’s Own Words
I am Maddie. You might remember me as the Kathmandu street dog that was captured by some strange people, loaded into a crate and driven to a place called Sneha’s Care, along with a large group of others just like me. I was very scared when I reached Sneha’s Care and it didn’t help that within less than 24 hours I was taken by myself to a room and given a shot… The next thing I remember is waking up and feeling some pain in my belly. That pain passed quickly and all I wanted to do was eat my good food and have the people who brought me to Sneha’s Care pay attention to me.
Sneha and Maddie snuggling on the day before Maddie’s departure
Time passed at Sneha’s Care very quickly. It seemed like only 20 minutes since I was unloaded off the truck with the others and given my first good meal in my short life. One day the kind people began taking our group out of our special enclosure one at a time and loading us back into the truck. I didn’t want to leave this safe place with these nice people so, as quickly as I could, I ran to the gate and managed to get past the people taking the dogs to the truck. I ran up the hill and into a sea of other dogs and it felt like home.
The people came after me but for some reason, they turned around and went back down the hill to talk to some ladies who had spent time with me since my arrival. The next thing I knew, one lady was petting me and placing a new red collar around my neck. That lady also gave me a name, Maddie. It was then that I knew I was special.
Maddie and Hillary – Hillary found Maddie her new home in New York.
I have been at Sneha’s Care since December 2016. As each day passes all of the bad memories of the streets seem to be forgotten. All I know now is good food, lots of playing with my doggie friends, loving hands petting me when I approach and a safe and warm place to rest at night.
The last few weeks have been confusing though. I know something is happening and it has something to do with ME! I have been checked over and over by a veterinarian who keeps marking up some papers that look very official. I have been placed in a special crate for short periods of time and then taken back out again, free to run and play.
Maddie is getting acclimated to being in a crate
Sneha tells me that I am the luckiest girl in all of Nepal. She tells me that one day soon, I will be put into that crate and travel a long way to a new home. I’m not sure what that means because I thought Sneha’s Care was my home. Sneha tells me that I am a good girl and the couple who have adopted me in New York are very lucky to get such a wonderful dog. I don’t know what it all means but I like it when Sneha tells me in a kind voice that I am good.
Sneha’s Care
Sneha’s Care is in much need of:
- Donations
- Volunteers
- Vets and vet techs
- Shelter workers (hardworking people who don’t mind getting dirty and helping out in the kennel)
- People to help arrange international adoptions
Contact Hillary Kloetzli for more information at Nepal Street Animal Rescue.
Donations may also be made directly to Sneha’s Care.
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Hillary Kloetzli
Latest posts by Hillary Kloetzli (see all)
- Rescuing a Dog from Abroad:3 International Adoption Stories - April 1, 2018
- Sneha’s Care Rescue and World Vets Team Up To Reduce Street Dog Overpopulation in Nepal - January 17, 2018
- Maddie’s Story Part 3: Forever Home - July 14, 2017
I'm so glad that Maddie is heading to her forever home, where she will always know love, food, and shelter! Thank you to everyone who are making this possible!
Yes – a lot of people are working hard to give Maddie a better life – bravo to everyone involved! And, of course, there are many more dogs at Sneha's Care who need help – anyone wanting to help can go to the Sneha's Care or Nepal Street Animal Rescue websites (referenced at the end of Maddie's story above). They need donations and volunteers. As an aside, some good folks from Britain adopted a *blind* dog from Sneha's Care last month! They also have a blind cat. Pretty darn wonderful. 🙂