After tiger, Dhoni adopts a dog

RANCHI: Liya, who scrounged for food and comfort in the drains of the Shyamli colony here, has finally found warmth and love in the laps of a well-known animal-loving couple - Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Sakshi.  On Thursday, the Team India skipper, who is in his home town on a much-deserved break, tweeted: "Adopted a rescued pup from Hope and Animal Trust Ranchi. v (We) call her Leah in English and Liya in Hindi".

Sources in Dhoni's family confirmed that he had adopted a stray pup. The Dhoni household has lost three dogs over the last nine months - while Zoya ( a Weimaraner) and Zara (a black Labrador) passed away in June, Mahi's favourite, Sam (a mixed German Shepherd), died in December last year. Dhoni shared his grief with his fans and followers on twitter.  Animal activists in the city hope that Liya's journey will give a new lease of life to thousands of stray dogs not only in Ranchi but across the country.

Praveen Ohal, secretary and founder of Hope and Animal Trust, Ranchi, said the pup was rescued from a waterlogged ditch at Mecon Colony (Shyamli) in June this year.  "It was soaked and shivering in the cold when I spotted it with an adult dog as it scampered around the road. I picked it up and transported it to our shelter in Khunti," he said. The trust works for eradication of rabies by controlling population of stray dogs and also rescues injured and ailing dogs for treatment.  Ohal said that Sakshi is also an animal lover and it was she who chose Liya from the 20-odd dogs available at the trust for adoption in the last week of July.

Source:TOI