In the quiet streets of Lonavala, India, a faint cry echoed through the night — the desperate voice of a newborn pup named Yuki. Alone and shivering, the tiny dog — barely the size of a mouse — cried out, hoping someone would hear her.
That someone was Manasvi Pawase, a kind neighbor and longtime animal rescuer.
“I heard a puppy crying outside,” Pawase told The Dodo. “I went to check and found this tiny, 3-week-old, mouse-sized puppy right outside our door. I was completely melted by her cuteness and immediately cuddled her up in my sweater.”
Wrapped in warmth for the first time, Yuki stopped crying. She relaxed against Pawase, finally safe in gentle hands.
“She was overjoyed to finally meet a human who would give her the warmth of love,” Pawase said. “It felt like she had been deprived of it for so long.”
As a volunteer with the animal rescue group Strays of Panvel, Pawase knew just what to do. Once home, she made a soft bed for Yuki and offered her food and comfort.
“The moment she came home with me, she slept all day like a baby,” Pawase said. “I could tell she was exhausted from all that fear and uncertainty.”
When Yuki regained her strength, Pawase found her a loving foster home with Melisa Rego and her dog, Bailey. That’s when Yuki’s personality truly bloomed.
“She turned into a complete hurricane!” Pawase said. “Running, playing, showering everyone with kisses, learning how to be a happy little dog.”
As the weeks passed, Pawase began searching for Yuki’s forever family. After sorting through dozens of inquiries, she found the perfect home. Saying goodbye wasn’t easy — but knowing Yuki was loved made it all worthwhile.
“I still don’t know where she came from or why she was abandoned,” Pawase said. “But I’m so glad she found her way to me.”
Today, Yuki is thriving in her forever home — a tiny survivor who beat the odds, all because one kind person stopped to listen.
You can follow Strays of Panvel on Instagram to see more of Pawase’s rescue work or make a donation to support pups like Yuki.
