From One Rescue to 700 Dogs: The Inspiring Journey of Dogfather Rakesh Shukla
On the outskirts of Bengaluru, hundreds of dogs run freely across open fields, swim in ponds, and rest peacefully under shaded trees. Many of them carry scars from a painful past, injuries from road accidents, abandonment, or abuse. Yet today they live in safety because one man chose to care. That man is Rakesh Shukla, a former tech entrepreneur who turned his life toward animal welfare.Born in 1971, Shukla is an electronics engineer with an MBA who built a successful career in the technology and telecommunications industry. He worked across India, the United States, and Singapore before founding his company, The Writers Block, in 2006. The firm quickly grew into a leading technical communication company serving global clients such as Microsoft, SAP, Oracle, and Intel. By all standards, Shukla had achieved professional success, financial stability, international exposure, and a thriving business. Yet despite the accomplishments, he felt a growing need for deeper purpose beyond corporate success.The Rescue That Changed EverythingThat turning point arrived in 2012 when Shukla found a severely injured St. Bernard lying helplessly on a Bengaluru roadside. The dog, later named Cookie, had been abandoned and paralysed due to spinal damage. While most people might have walked away, Shukla brought her home and tried to care for her. Despite his efforts, Cookie died from complications caused by prolonged neglect before rescue.Her death left a deep impact on him. Instead of accepting it as a tragic incident, Shukla asked himself how many animals were suffering silently on the streets. Determined to help, he founded Voice of Stray Dogs (VOSD) the same year. The organisation focused on rescuing animals in critical condition, dogs hit by vehicles, those suffering infections or abuse, and animals often rejected by shelters due to the high cost of treatment. From the beginning, Shukla set a clear principle: no dog would be turned away because its case was too difficult.Building a Sanctuary for Hundreds of DogsAs rescues increased, Shukla realised many animals could never return to the streets. Some were paralysed, blind, or too traumatised to survive outside. To give them a permanent home, he bought land near Doddaballapura, outside Bengaluru, and began building a sanctuary.Today the facility has grown into one of the world’s largest no-kill dog sanctuaries. Spread across several acres, it includes open spaces, enclosures, ponds, and a specialised veterinary hospital. Hundreds of dogs now live there, many elderly, disabled, or recovering from severe injuries. They receive surgery, rehabilitation, vaccinations, and daily care from a team of veterinarians and caregivers. Through Voice of Stray Dogs, thousands of animals across India have been rescued and treated over the years.A Movement Built on EmpathyWhat began as one rescue has grown into a nationwide effort. Through VOSD, Shukla has built a network of volunteers, veterinarians, and animal welfare groups working to help animals in distress. His work also promotes compassionate urban animal management and responsible coexistence with stray animals.Visitors to the sanctuary often say the most powerful part of Shukla’s work is the bond he shares with the dogs. He calls them his “children,” and the sanctuary feels more like a community than a shelter. Dogs that once arrived injured and frightened slowly regain trust and confidence.Rakesh Shukla’s journey shows how one moment of compassion can grow into a movement. For the hundreds of dogs now living safely at his sanctuary, that compassion meant a second chance at life.
