From Thane streets to Toronto: Stray dog Rani's incredible journey

THANE: A three-year-old female stray dog from the streets of Thane, aptly named Rani, experienced a fairy-tale transformation last week after she was adopted by a Canada-based IT professional and flown to Toronto, marking the end of a challenging journey on Thane streets.
Rani's life was anything but easy. As a stray, she had to survive the harsh conditions of life on the streets—battling aggressive packs for food and enduring sleepless nights on cold, hard concrete.
Now, however, she enjoys the comfort of gourmet meals, cosy beds, and the love of her new family, making her journey a topic of conversation among pet lovers in the city.
The adoption story began in December 2024, when 45-year-old Salil Navghare, a Canadian citizen, was visiting his parents' home in Vartak Nagar with his wife and son when they first noticed Rani.
"We instantly felt a connection to the frail, timid dog who seemed to be in desperate need of love and affection," Salil recalls. "We began feeding her and gradually earned her trust. When she started to reciprocate, we knew we had to adopt her and give her a better life."
Salil, already a pet parent to a Bernedoodle named Shai, also fostered dogs rescued from the South Korean meat trade. But adopting Rani and arranging her migration to Canada was no easy task.
It required extensive planning, including health checks, vaccinations, deworming, and ensuring Rani met all the necessary requirements to enter Canada. With the Navghares scheduled to leave India soon in December, time was a rarity.
Fortunately, Salil reached out to Nilesh Bhanage, an animal welfare activist and founder of PAWS (Plant & Animals Welfare Society), who immediately offered his support.
"We created a WhatsApp group to coordinate efforts and reached out to volunteers and organisations who could help," explains Bhanage. "Devendra Nilakhe, who owns a Pet Taxi service, for instance, assisted in rescuing Rani from Thane and transporting her to a foster home owned by Omkar Kadam in Badlapur, while vaccination and medical attention was provided by Dr Nitish Puro."
Despite Rani's initial fear and hesitation due to her past struggles, the team worked patiently with her, helping her regain trust in humans. "Our goal was to provide the care and love she never experienced before," says Bhanage, who has been working in animal welfare for over 25 years. "In time, Rani began to show her true nature as a sweet, loving dog."
However, one major challenge remained: finding an escort to accompany Rani on her journey to Canada. After weeks of searching, Salil connected with his friend Tanmay Kelkar, who was visiting India and scheduled to return to Canada in mid-March.
With the help of Nilakhe and pet transporter Shyamax Presswala, Rani was finally able to embark on her long, exhausting 26-hour journey on March 21.
Upon her arrival in Toronto, the Navghares were overcome with joy and relief. "We were nervous at first, wondering if Rani would recognise us," says Salil. "But as soon as we saw her, we knew she was settling into her new life. She quickly adapted to her new surroundings, and now she has a specially designed bed and the finest treats awaiting her."
The Navghares plan to groom Rani and introduce her to their friends and family, who are excited to meet her. Salil hopes Rani's story will inspire more people, particularly those living abroad, to adopt Indie dogs. "There are so many dogs like Rani who just need a little love and care," he says.
For Nilesh Bhanage, this successful adoption reinforces his belief in the power of compassion. "We hope more people will consider adopting stray dogs, especially Indies, and give them the loving homes they deserve."