Katie was born in July of 2001 in Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu. Her mother was a Pariah Dog, father unknown. We acquired her as a puppy, barely weaned, from a family that was involved with the International School as I was a volunteer teacher there at the time. Another couple from the States adopted one of Katie's brothers, but I don't know what has happened to them.
Katie has been a very special part of our family. She stole our hearts as a pup and there was no way we were going to leave her in India when it was our time to come back to the U.S. Katie endured a 32 hour trip in a carrier, with time for a walk in Malaysia (under armed guard!) and nibbled on stolen breakfast sausages from the hotel! When we finally arrived in Los Angeles, we could hear her howling for us through the customs door. I think the airport officials were so glad to reunite us that we didn't even have to wait for a vet - we just walked out with her like she was one of our children!
Katie has been totally pampered in America, but I swear every time we cook Indian food she sits in the kitchen with her nose in the air and a far away look in her eyes. Could she really be remembering her first year in Kodai? Or could she just be reflecting the longing in my own heart to return to Tamil Nadu...???
Yvonne Koch
Minnesota, USA
Rajashree's footnote: I must explain how Katie joined the Club! Yvonne Koch was watching a repeat of the Martha Stewart Dog Show (I posted the link on February 9, 2008, you can view it by clicking here). On the show she saw Yvonne de Kock of NYC with her INDog-mix Leela and our other NYC member, India. She was struck by the resemblance between Leela and Katie, looked up pariah dogs/INDogs on Google, and that's how she came here.
