Bhubaneswar, May 17 -- Not far from Bengaluru, on a sprawling farm filled with barking, tail-wagging dogs, lives Rakesh Shukla, known across India as the "Dog Father." Once a software engineer and entrepreneur, Shukla's life took a radical turn in 2009 when he brought home a 45-day-old Golden Retriever named Kavya.

The puppy, scared and hiding in a corner, inspired an emotional awakening in him, transforming his sense of purpose. Soon after, he rescued another stray dog, Lucky, during heavy rains. What began as care for a few dogs quickly escalated into a life devoted to hundreds of abandoned, injured, and unwanted animals.

Building a Sanctuary for Every Dog

By 2012, Shukla purchased land in Doddaballapur and established a permanent sa...