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“He was locked inside a cage. The man poured petrol on him from the outside and set him on fire. By the time someone stopped him, it was too late. His skin was charred. His eyes were filled with pain. When we brought him to the shelter, he wouldn’t even look at us. He hated humans. But slowly, he started healing. We didn’t give up on him. And today… he wags his tail and greets everyone who walks through our gate.”— Mugdha, founder of Healing SaathiMugdha is the founder of Healing Saathi, a no-kill animal shelter and one of the only shelters of its kind in Dehradun. Built from scratch during the 2020 lockdown, Healing Saathi offers a permanent, safe space for abandoned, injured, and abused animals—many of whom would otherwise be left to suffer or be euthanised. Unlike most shelters, it takes in all kinds of animals, including aggressive breeds, cats, large animals like goats and mules, and even a rescued monkey. Here, no animal is turned away, and none are ever put down.
She left her dream job to save the voiceless
In 2020, Mugdha had just been selected to join a prominent airline as cabin crew. She had spent years preparing for this opportunity. But when the lockdown was announced, she returned to Dehradun and began noticing what no one else seemed to see—dogs eating plastic, starving cats limping across roads, animals lying injured with no one to help them.“Restaurants were shut, the streets were empty, and these animals had no food, no care, no shelter. I couldn’t walk past them. I began cooking at home and feeding over 100 dogs every single day.”— Mugdha
As days passed, the rescues began. A breed dog abandoned on the highway. A cat bleeding from a deep wound. A stray limping with maggots in his leg. When she contacted the city’s only shelter, they said they were full. So she did what she could—she brought them home.
‘I couldn’t leave these babies on the road to die’
Her mother, the sole earner in the family after her father passed away in 2017, ran a small PG. She gave up the rooms meant for paying guests so the animals could be safe. Mugdha cleared out her own bedroom for the cats and moved into a small kitchen and one room with her mother. For five years, they lived like that, while animals kept arriving.
“I tried starting a cat boarding service to make some money, but that too became a rescue space. People judged me, said I was wasting my life, ruining my future. But I couldn’t stop. I couldn’t leave these helpless babies to die.”— Mugdha
As the rescues increased, Mugdha rented a 250-square-yard plot and built a temporary shelter. She didn’t have the money for it. Her mother handed over the jewellery she had saved for Mugdha’s wedding. It was mortgaged for a loan, and that’s what became the foundation of Healing Saathi.
Every life here carries a story of pain and incredible resilience
Pirate was just a puppy when a group of children threw stones at him, damaging his skull and leaving him blind. He began having seizures and needed surgery to survive. Mugdha cared for him day and night. He made it through, and today, he lives with a loving adoptive family. Luna, a paralyzed Shih Tzu, was abandoned by her owners once they realised she couldn’t walk. Mugdha brought her home, cared for her gently, and eventually adopted her. She now moves around with the help of a wheelchair and wags her tail at everyone. There was Babu, who was found starving near a temple, his body covered in skin infections. He was so weak that people mistook him for a dying stray. But after months of care, he regained strength. That’s when they realised—he was a Gaddi dog, a rare Himalayan breed. Today, he is healthy, happy, and safe.“These animals have been through hell. But they never give up. They still love. They still try. And that gives me the strength to keep going, even when I feel like I can’t.”— Mugdha
Healing Saathi is now at risk of shutting down – they need your help to save it
Healing Saathi now spans over an acre on the outskirts of Dehradun and shelters more than 275 rescued animals, including dogs, cats, goats, mules, and even a monkey. It’s one of the only no-kill shelters in Uttarakhand that houses both large and small animals and has a dedicated cat sanctuary—something most shelters avoid.Mugdha leads a team of 17, including para-vets and a full-time vet. With donor support, they began building an in-house hospital with an OT, X-ray unit, and diagnostic lab to replace their makeshift outdoor surgery setup. But things did not progress as expected and the shelter is now ₹20 lakh in debt. The rescue helpline is shut, salaries are pending, and credit lines for food and medicines have dried up. Sick animals are kept alongside recovering ones, and there’s no secure space for aggressive breeds, putting lives at daily risk.
“My friends moved ahead in life, building careers and homes. I built this with my mother’s jewellery and five years of sacrifice. But I can’t keep it alive on love alone. If we don’t get help now, these animals will lose the only safe space they have. Please help us keep the gates open.”—Mugdha
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