After landing a great job in a corner of a corner of India, far from home and hearth for the first time in her life, Farahdiva Haque finds herself feeling very alone. This emotion is short-lived, however, as a clever and, at times, menacing, pariah dog she names Koko quickly and irrevocably steals her heart. As their bond strengthens, Farah becomes embroiled in a series of frustrating, funny, poignant, tearful, and heart-tugging animal encounters on such a scale that she requires home helpers to help care for her pets while she is off at work. Finding herself resolutely drawn to helping animals in need in a country where little animal welfare support exists, Farah takes in more dogs, some cats, and even a few birds who all have a lesson to teach, not the least of which is that the nature of animals is unexpected – for better or for worse! With her eloquent pen, Farah draws you into her adventures, sharing the spectrum of emotions embedded in the virtuous task of helping those who can’t help themselves. From the time Koko eats the neighbor's chickens to when he unexpectedly snaps up Farah’s bulbul bird into his mouth, and from discovering and taking in a new desperate soul to facing the impossibly hard yet inevitable task of letting pets go, Farah overcomes a new challenge in each chapter. You’ll meet Jonni, the gentle leader with a crooked smile; Bittoo, the troublesome feline who was caught in a drain; and a host of other fur-colored characters (including a herd of elephants!) as you navigate life with pets in India with Farah as your guide.
