Rescue Momo the Dog from India

Brief timeline of Momo's miracle survival in India

14 July, 2016, Nako Village, Himachal Pradesh, India: I witness a group of men throwing bricks at a puppy in an attempt to kill him. The dog is trapped in a fenced area so that he cannot escape. He is screaming frantically. I shout at the men to stop, and I jump one meter off the roadside into the fenced area to rescue the dog.

16 July, 2016, Chitkul Village, Himachal Pradesh, India: For two days I travel with the puppy - who I call Momo  - to Kalpa and Chitkul Village trying to find a local person to adopt him along the way. No one wants to adopt this stray mixed-breed mountain dog.

17 July, 2016: A massive landslide hits Chitkul Village. We are trapped in Chitkul for three days with no electricity or access to the outside world. The local people hate Momo and want us to leave. Children and adults throw stones at him and curse him. I am scared for his safety.

20 July, 2016 Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, India: Someone helps Momo and me to escape Chitkul by private car waiting for us in Sangla – which we had to reach on foot. The car takes us to Shimla where I can find a vet clinic and internet access. In Shimla, I get Momo micro-chipped, vaccinated, and neutered. I use social media to try to find Momo a home urgently as my flight leaves India on 22 July.

21 July, 2016: As a last resort, I find a shelter on Facebook that can look after Momo for one month in Delhi at a fee. I accept the offer hoping that within one month I can find him a forever home in India or bring him to South Korea where I currently live.

22 July, 2016, Delhi International Airport: The shelter owner picks Momo up from me at the airport. I am heartbroken to be separated from this dog as I feel that I have become his guardian and need to ensure his safety. However, I have to leave India and return home.

22 July - 14 September, 2016, Seoul, South Korea: For two months I try to find a forever home for Momo in India. I do this by contacting rescue organizations across India via social media and asking my fellow animal rescue friends based in India to please help me. However, I keep hearing the same response: "no one will adopt Momo. He is a mixed-breed mountain dog. Even pure breeds have a really difficult time finding homes here". Also, the shelter owner in Delhi says she cannot help me because she is too busy. She says that it is highly unlikely Momo will find a forever home in India, and I should make arrangements to send him abroad.

As a result, I contact pet relocation companies in India to try to help me bring Momo either to South Korea where I currently live or to South Africa where I will be returning in a couple of months. I know that South Africa is the best option because he can find a forever home easily in a country that loves and respects dogs.

At first, I am quoted between 5000 - 6000 USD to transport Momo to South Korea or South Africa (please see the screenshot of just one of these quotes). I am shocked by this amount and realize there is no way I can afford this.  After much research, I find Petfly which is a reputable pet relocation company in Delhi run by Doctor Choudhary. She quotes me a discounted fee of 3100 USD to transport Momo to South Africa, and 2400 USD to transport him to South Korea (please see the screenshot of this quote). Although flying Momo to South Africa is more expensive, I truly believe life for a dog in South Africa is much better.

14, September, 2016 - present: I start a Gofundme campaign to send Momo to South Africa. While the minimum total cost for Momo's relocation will be 3100 USD, our Gofundme page asks for only 2700 USD. This is because I would also like to contribute to this cause and take responsibility for Momo's welfare. However, as a teacher in South Korea, I do not earn enough money to pay the entire amount. With your help, I will be able to send Momo to South Africa and give him a second chance at life.
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Extra Information required by Gofundme:

Who I am and where I'm from: My name is Claudia Mamet, and I am a South African who has been working as a teacher in South Korea for 6 years. I have rescued numerous dogs and cats from the streets of South Korea since I arrived here in December, 2010. I have spent over 10,000 US dollars of my own personal income towards stray animals in need of medical attention, rehabilitation, and relocation. I have adopted two dogs in Korea, one from an animal shelter and the other from a dog farm where she was being raised for meat. I foster stray animals regularly and rehabilitate them so that they can be adopted into forever homes. While I love teaching, my true passion is helping animals in need.

Who I am raising funds for: I am raising funds to help Momo, a dog I found being stoned to death in India. After failing to find him a home in India over the past two months, I have decided that the last resort - and best solution - is to send him to my family in South Africa. I will foster him there on our large family property where he will be safe and happy. Once there, I will be his guardian until I can find him a loving forever home.

How the funds will be spent: All funds raised will be spent on Momo's relocation from India to South Africa. These funds will be sent directly to the India-based pet relocation company and veterinary clinic - Petfly - which has given us the cheapest quote of all relocation companies contacted in India. Please be aware that Gofundme takes 5% of all funds raised.