Adopt, Don’t Shop: Why Indian Breeds of Dogs and Cats Make the Best Pets (And Deserve a Chance)
Riya Kumari | Feb 11, 2025, 23:49 IST
( Image credit : Pexels )
So let’s talk about it. Let’s talk about why these animals deserve more than scraps of food and fleeting sympathy. Let’s talk about why adopting an Indian dog or cat is not just an act of kindness, but an act of recognizing what should have been obvious all along: their lives are just as valuable as the ones we buy.
There’s a moment that changes everything. Maybe it’s when you see a trembling puppy hiding under a car, too young to understand the world is dangerous. Or a kitten, barely the size of your palm, crying for a mother who never comes back. Maybe it’s when you watch a stray dog look at a human—not with fear, not with aggression, but with hope. In that moment, you realize: they are not just strays. They are lives. They are possibilities. Yet, most people walk past them like they’re part of the background. Disposable. Unimportant. The world has conditioned us to believe that some lives matter less than others—especially when they don’t come with a price tag. But the truth is, the value of a being isn’t determined by how much someone is willing to pay for it.
1. The World is Unforgiving to the Weak
A puppy born on the streets has no idea how to cross a road. A kitten has no concept of fast-moving traffic. Their first few weeks are a battlefield—dodging cars, searching for food, avoiding abuse. Many don’t make it. But some do. And the ones who do? They don’t survive because the world was kind to them. They survive in spite of it. And that’s where you come in. Your love, your home, your decision to stop and help—it could mean the difference between life and death. The world may not be built for them, but you have the power to carve out a space where they can exist safely.
2. The Silent Suffering of Those Who Can’t Speak
Imagine this: a dog yelps as a child throws a stone at it for fun. A kitten flinches as a group of people kick it just to watch it run. An animal cries for help, for safety, for relief from pain—but no one listens, because they don’t speak our language. Yet, they do. They speak in their eyes, in their body language, in the way they flinch at a raised hand or wag their tail at a kind voice. They feel fear. They feel love. They form bonds. The only difference between them and the pets we pamper inside our homes is that one had the privilege of safety, and the other didn’t. That difference is not natural—it is created. And what is created can be changed.
3. Strength Comes in Many Forms
There’s a misconception that street dogs and Indian breeds are somehow “lesser” than imported, purebred pets. But think about it—these animals have survived monsoons, harsh summers, hunger, and disease without human intervention. They don’t need expensive grooming. They don’t have genetic disorders caused by years of inbreeding. They adapt effortlessly to Indian weather and diet. They are built to live. And yet, they are the ones overlooked. The ones abandoned for the pets that demand more care, more money, more maintenance. The irony is almost cruel—people reject the animals that would love them with no conditions, for the ones that come with a list of them.
4. Simple Joy of Being Loved
An Indian dog doesn’t care about the size of your house. A rescued cat won’t judge your bank balance. They won’t demand luxury—they’ll just demand you. They will greet you like you are the center of their universe. They will play with a torn slipper as joyfully as another dog might play with an expensive toy. They will love you with a purity that humans have forgotten how to give. And isn’t that what people look for? Isn’t that what everyone is chasing? A love that asks for nothing but presence?
5. Beauty is Not a Breed
It’s easy to be drawn to the familiar. The Persian cat with its long fur. The Golden Retriever with its famous smile. The appeal is obvious. But look—really look—into the eyes of an Indian dog. Hold a stray kitten in your hands and feel its heartbeat against your palm. Watch the way they soften under a gentle touch, the way they begin to trust even when they have no reason to. Tell me that isn’t beautiful. Tell me that isn’t worth choosing.
The Choice is Yours—But It Means Something
We like to believe we’re kind. That we care. That we’re the kind of people who would do the right thing when it matters. Well, it matters now. The next time you see a stray, the next time you have the chance to adopt, the next time you look at a pet store and think, Maybe I should buy one—pause. Think about what you are choosing. Are you choosing a pet for its label? Or are you choosing a life because it deserves to be chosen? One of these choices will cost you money. The other will give you a bond that money could never buy.
1. The World is Unforgiving to the Weak
Cat on streets
( Image credit : Pexels )
A puppy born on the streets has no idea how to cross a road. A kitten has no concept of fast-moving traffic. Their first few weeks are a battlefield—dodging cars, searching for food, avoiding abuse. Many don’t make it. But some do. And the ones who do? They don’t survive because the world was kind to them. They survive in spite of it. And that’s where you come in. Your love, your home, your decision to stop and help—it could mean the difference between life and death. The world may not be built for them, but you have the power to carve out a space where they can exist safely.
2. The Silent Suffering of Those Who Can’t Speak
Indian puppy
( Image credit : Pexels )
Imagine this: a dog yelps as a child throws a stone at it for fun. A kitten flinches as a group of people kick it just to watch it run. An animal cries for help, for safety, for relief from pain—but no one listens, because they don’t speak our language. Yet, they do. They speak in their eyes, in their body language, in the way they flinch at a raised hand or wag their tail at a kind voice. They feel fear. They feel love. They form bonds. The only difference between them and the pets we pamper inside our homes is that one had the privilege of safety, and the other didn’t. That difference is not natural—it is created. And what is created can be changed.
3. Strength Comes in Many Forms
Cat
( Image credit : Pexels )
There’s a misconception that street dogs and Indian breeds are somehow “lesser” than imported, purebred pets. But think about it—these animals have survived monsoons, harsh summers, hunger, and disease without human intervention. They don’t need expensive grooming. They don’t have genetic disorders caused by years of inbreeding. They adapt effortlessly to Indian weather and diet. They are built to live. And yet, they are the ones overlooked. The ones abandoned for the pets that demand more care, more money, more maintenance. The irony is almost cruel—people reject the animals that would love them with no conditions, for the ones that come with a list of them.
4. Simple Joy of Being Loved
Dog
( Image credit : Pexels )
An Indian dog doesn’t care about the size of your house. A rescued cat won’t judge your bank balance. They won’t demand luxury—they’ll just demand you. They will greet you like you are the center of their universe. They will play with a torn slipper as joyfully as another dog might play with an expensive toy. They will love you with a purity that humans have forgotten how to give. And isn’t that what people look for? Isn’t that what everyone is chasing? A love that asks for nothing but presence?
5. Beauty is Not a Breed
Cat
( Image credit : Pexels )
It’s easy to be drawn to the familiar. The Persian cat with its long fur. The Golden Retriever with its famous smile. The appeal is obvious. But look—really look—into the eyes of an Indian dog. Hold a stray kitten in your hands and feel its heartbeat against your palm. Watch the way they soften under a gentle touch, the way they begin to trust even when they have no reason to. Tell me that isn’t beautiful. Tell me that isn’t worth choosing.