In 2016, we went to see the Golden Temple in Amritsar, India, after being away for 25 years. The scene was acutely distressing. Street dogs, or strays, were everywhere in numbers we could not have imagined. We rented a car and drove through streets around Ranjit Avenue, feeding every dog we crossed paths with.

A.W.C.T.’s future founder, Asha N. Singhani, could barely sleep through the nights, as she was getting ready early every day to make her rounds to feed these dogs. As days passed, her determination to end the perpetuating misery and anguish of strays grew.

We knew something more had to be done. Unlike other countries, Indian law prevents euthanasia, so that has never been the solution for India. Every year, we would spend more time in Amritsar and meet more dog lovers like us, wanting to help these animals. But, like all well-meaning people we encountered, we continued to be deeply saddened by the continued miserable plight of these helpless dogs.

Asha’s love for dogs goes back to when she was 12 years old when she took a stray dog from Napean Sea Road in South Bombay and gave it a home. On her frequent visits to India, her heart breaks for every stray dog she encounters. The intensity of her desire to find a real solution led her to establish a nonprofit for injured dogs in Amritsar, the first of many planned Animal Birth Control Programs in India.

Four years later, we established a foundation for rescue dogs in Amritsar, India. We relied on many kindhearted people to help our charity for dogs succeed and grow into what it is today. We opened our arms to all who would come forward to volunteer, hired committed experts, and received aid from people we had never met. We were happily surprised that many supported our cause, offered us guidance, and donated their time, money, and supplies. Together we created the charity for dogs  you now know as Animal Welfare Charitable Trust.