Tola and Her Puppies

I was traveling in Varanasi India last October.  It was my second trip there so the crushing noise, traffic, pollution, filth and disease were no surprise to me.  Neither was the homeless dog population.  There are street dogs everywhere in Varanasi and you have to detach yourself from their plight.  I was doing pretty well, until I saw Tola.
 
I first came upon Tola tucked in a small alley where she had just delivered her pups not more than a day ago.  She was lying in filth and being heckled by the large male dog population there.  She looked starving and exhausted, trying to protect her puppies and herself.   Something broke open in me that moment.  I knew I had to help this one dog and her puppies.  I had no way to safely handle her in that moment so I had to get help from a friend of mine who ran an animal shelter.  Walking away from Tola in that alley was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done.
The next day I was ready to pick up Tola but I couldn’t find the alley she was in.  After four days of frustration and trying to accept that it might not happen, I showed a picture of Tola to a little boy and he took me to where she was. 
 
We were able to get Tola and her puppies secure in a cage on a moped and took her to the shelter.  Once at the shelter, Tola was not aggressive.  During her bath, she looked up into my eyes with a look that I can only describe as gratitude.  The whole family was cleaned up and received medical treatment. 

Because Tola was lactating she couldn’t be spayed right away.  I was also told if the pups were going to survive on the streets, they would have to grow up on the streets. So, the options were, take them back to the streets right away or make sure they never go back.   For me the decision was simple.  These particular dogs were never going back to the streets again. 
 
Tola and her puppies are currently healthy and living in a dog homestay shelter in Delhi where I am paying for their care until they can come to the US.  I get daily updates on their progress and the whole family is doing wonderfully. 
 
The reason I am appealing to you now is I need help with the next step.  I had partnered with a friend who was going to finance Tola and her puppies’ trip to the US.  She is Australian and unfortunately her farm was caught up in the wildfires.  The impact of her loss has made it no longer feasible for her to help.  I now need to raise money for Tola and her puppies’ continuing care in the shelter, transportation to the US and once they arrive in the country, vaccinations, spaying and neutering.

I understand there are a lot of causes out there. 
We can only help what is in front of us.
I am doing this because Tola and her puppies were in front of me.
 
Your donations will cover transport costs from Varanasi to Delhi, board and housing at the Delhi homestay shelter, veterinary preparation for transport to the USA, microchips for all four dogs(necessary for international travel), crate rental, transport and liaison services at the Delhi airport and cargo costs for four dogs through Qatar airlines. By March 31st the airlines cutoff dog transport. Time is of the essence ! Thank you for listening to my story.