Before establishing the Bridging Rainbows Foundation, a section 8 non-profit organization in late September 2023, the Directors, Mrs. Hansa Roy and Dr. Kuhu Roy had been working for the cause since 2005 and had always known compassion as a way of life.

Mrs. Roy was comfortable leading a life as a geoscientist with the National Oil Corporation, until Brownie, a stray mother dog delivered a litter of pups in her office premises in 2004. She often found Brownie rummaging in the garbage. That is when she started to feed her. When her pups weaned off, they came under Mrs. Roy’s care. Then, one fine day, they were thrown away. Brownie had cried for days together for her children. Six months down the line, Brownie delivered yet again, that time four pups; Matalu, Chota Kaalu, Brown and Bada Brown. Though totally ignorant about the animal protection laws back then, Mrs. Roy was adamant, she would not let anyone harm Brownie’s pups that time. But what about Brownie? Would she continue to go through the cycle of physical, emotional and nutritional drain by delivering pups all her life? Could there be a way to ease her agony? That is when ‘Can a stray dog be sterilized?’ came to her mind. She opened the internet and tried to find out about animal welfare organizations (AWOs) who could guide her regarding the same. An administrator of a local AWO told her that Brownie could be sterilized. Mrs. Roy was delighted that there was a solution in place and what more, help was available too.

Four months later, Brownie was picked up for sterilization and Mrs. Roy ensured to pay the AWO for their noble deed. Brownie returned hale and hearty post-surgery. Mrs. Roy was at peace for Brownie. She would follow the same procedure for Brownie’s pups too when they would come of age. In the meantime, happy with the services of the AWO, Mrs. Roy arranged a lumpsum donation by the human resource department of the company she worked in, for the sterilization of all the dogs of the campus. However, she had rejoiced too soon. Brownie delivered yet again. Mrs. Roy was shocked and angry. She called up the administrator of the AWO and the response left her shell shocked. She was offered to take the money back that she had donated for Brownie’s surgery. There was no remorse from very those who were supposed to be sensitive to the plight of stray dogs. More shock followed when none of the stray dogs in the premises were picked up for sterilization. It was her first brush with reality that in order to ensure sterilization of stray dogs, she would have to dirty her own hands on the ground, and not take the AWOs for their word. That is the point from which she went about making sterilization of stray dogs her mission.

It was a turning point in her life wherein she left behind years of her life as a scientist and stepped into a world that was harsh and cruel not only to the stray dogs but also to people who cared for them. Far worse, there was no one to back her up. She transitioned, from the palaeontologist with an eight hours staring at the microscope to study the plant fossils job to an eight hours tending to her children on the roads, the stray dogs. She began to scan different areas and locations. There were hardly any stray dogs with clipped ears (a clipped ear depicts the stray dog is sterilized and vaccinated against rabies). She began to feed them, every day. Soon, massive resistance from the locals followed, from not only one place, but every spot that she visited. She tried to explain several times that she was feeding the stray dogs so that she could take them for sterilization. But residents rather watch the stray dogs multiply, starve, die under wheels but not engage in sterilization ever. She understood she could not expect any co-operation from them. Despite the threats that came her way, she continued to feed the stray dogs day after day until they became friendly enough to be caught for sterilization. She began to deliver on her promise. From places that were once flooded with pups, stray mother dogs and male dogs with unclipped ears, there was a transition to no pups and stray mother dogs and male dogs with clipped ears. Those locations became rabies free too. However, that had little to no impact on the residents. Basically, sterilization of stray dogs, although a public health work, was a thankless job, not that she needed any appreciation. She continued to look after the sterilized stray dogs too, for their entire lifetime, with the same love and care that one would give to a pet, albeit, it was on the streets. Every stray dog became a chapter of learning for her. She went raising her voice to seek justice for countless, when they were killed or removed or died due to poor sterilization conditions. In doing so, she got labeled as a dangerous woman. She did not mind that title as long as the safety of her stray dogs was ensured. 

She scanned, combed and expanded areas and became known as a selfless woman in simple clothes, who carried unlimited food and love for the stray dogs. There was a point when close to 400+ stray dogs used to eat from her hands in a day. No one could get why, someone who did not benefit in any way, monetarily especially, would come day after day, visit places to feed the stray dogs. Despite the hostilities, and everyday that brought a new challenge and still do, there is peace she has earned for herself.

The life with the strays provided an appreciation and insight into canine behaviour and pack dynamics in close proximity. Each stray had a story of survival, hope, happiness, and challenge. All of the dogs, close to four thousand over two decades, were named to honour their compelling heroic story and represent their unique characteristics and personality. Many of the strays found their way into her home, where Dr. Kuhu Roy cared for them, with a special place in her heart for senior stray dogs, rescued dogs, dogs with special needs (blind, amputee dogs, hospice dogs, handicapped dogs). Caring for senior, hospice, and terminally ill adopted dogs also came with an awareness that they would leave sooner than others. While with life comes death, it always took an emotional toll, given the frequency of loss encountered on the streets and at home. As a natural corollary, in their passing, there was grief which was as strongly felt as one would in the case of a human companion.

The past two decades have been a soul-rewarding journey. However, this public health service and an attempt to give stray dogs a good quality of life came with unsurmountable challenges. It has been a high-stress and emotionally-charged journey. While the scientifically proven Animal Birth Control Programme to humanely control the stray dog population and eradicate rabies is in place, based on the recommendations of the World Health Organization, the spay and neuter initiative continues to be under supported and undervalued across India. While the law promotes compassion and protection of animals, sadly, there is unawareness and a meagre penalty attached, which leaves stray dogs and all the compassionate people who care for them vulnerable to harm.

Butter, a rescued dog, their first companion animal at home, was a very magnanimous soul. She sniffed the clothes of Mrs. Roy every day upon their return that smelled of countless like her who did not have the privilege of being homed, she always wagged her tail with gratitude in her eyes. When Mrs. Roy and Dr. Roy faced resistance, social boycott, and public defamation for their selfless public health service, returning home to Butter brought peace and sanity. Butter’s presence was therapeutic. Butter could sense the negativity her caregivers were surrounded with, especially when she stepped out daily for her walks. Butter, who had so much love to give, could not understand the looks of disdain and acts of malice from others. She also lost her canine friends on the streets to cruelty; a once overly friendly dog became skeptical of anyone coming her way. The experience modulated her perception of humans. She transformed to become a guard dog. She restricted her goodness only to the very close friends and family she knew would not harm her and her humans. Had it not been for Butter, Mrs. Roy and Dr. Roy could not have survived an attempt of physical assault; the rescued became the rescuer.

She was special not because she was the first constant companion animal who came into Roys’ home from the streets, but because she was a pillar of strength and resilience. She was a part of their struggle through thick and thin. Butter was there, standing rock solid with them, giving them the strength to sail through difficult situations and feelings. Butter, in the span of her lifetime, taught her caregivers how to divert their grief to do more good, and engage in more compassion, which would, one day become the Bridging Rainbows initiative.

On the second of November, 2019, Butter died due to medical negligence. Butter, who had given thirteen years and two months of her love and life to the Roys, died in the most nightmarish manner. Her eventual immediate death resulting from an unnecessary surgery, resulted in feelings of guilt, anger, loneliness, frustration, a sense of disillusionment, and sheer hopelessness for the Roys. Despite this loss, the Roys continued to serve the stray dogs on the streets and the rescued dogs who were in their home because of the special responsibility this bond engenders.

The tragic loss of Butter came with the realization that there was nothing in place for the grieving parents of companion animals, let alone a support group in India. There was no system in place. When the needs of the animal lovers, rescuers, volunteers and grieving parents of the companion animals would be met, they would be in a better shape to take care of themselves and help more animals in need, and not let the compassion die in them. Butter’s death had a new dimension added to it.

To memorialize Butter, for her larger than life purpose, the force of resilience and compassion she was, came into existence Bridging Rainbows initiative, a first of its kind initiative from India to support the bereaved family of companion animals. The initiative was born on the fifteenth of August 2021, on what would have been Butter’s 15th birthday. It soon resulted in the creation of a non-profit in late 2023, as an amalgamation of every sphere that the Founders have dedicated their life to in the past two decades.

They have worked tirelessly as a two-women army, pumping their emotions, efforts, time, and their own money for two decades under the most challenging of circumstances. They hope and want other kind souls to join hands to continue making a difference, in an even bigger way. They believe, those who are profoundly bonded to their companion animals, have a lot of goodness to offer to the world to make a difference. Human and animal welfare cannot be viewed separately, rather they are intricately tied together. With the inception of Bridging Rainbows Foundation, they wish to create a human chain of goodness aimed at man-animal harmony.