Once Just Another Stray, This Indian Dog Is Leading a Walk for Peace Across the U.S.
In a country where stray dogs are often feared, ignored, or chased away, one street dog is quietly rewriting the story. Aloka, once just another Indian street dog, also known as “indie” navigating life on the streets, found an unexpected family in a group of Buddhist monks, and today, he’s walking his way into hearts across the world. (Watch Video Above)
After choosing to follow the monks on a 112-day journey across India in 2022, Aloka is now known as the “Peace Dog,”as per KPLC TV News. The sweet doggo is accompanying them on an extraordinary 3,700-kilometer Walk for Peace across the United States.
A Once-Overlooked Street Dog, Now Followed by the World
And Aloka’s story doesn’t end on the road. His gentle journey has inspired a devoted community of supporters, earning him dedicated social media pages where hundreds of thousands of followers from around the world can walk alongside him virtually.
Once a stray wandering the streets of Kolkata, India, Aloka chose to follow the monks and walked alongside them for more than 100 days, becoming a living symbol of the Walk for Peace. While his exact birthday remains unknown, his quiet loyalty, gentle nature, and peaceful spirit are obvious to everyone who crosses his path.
Street dogs in India often live incredibly hard lives, enduring extreme weather, searching endlessly for food and water, and too often facing cruelty instead of kindness. As an Indian and a dog lover, this is a reality I know all too well. That’s why Aloka’s journey feels so powerful. His growing global following allows the world to see what an ordinary Indian pariah dog is capable of when given compassion, trust, and a chance to belong.
Aloka Takes a Break to Heal and Recover
Aloka the Peace Dog, who has been faithfully walking alongside Buddhist monks on their Walk for Peace, recently faced a small setback when he injured his leg and needed surgery. The monks shared that the procedure, expected to take two to three hours, was completed in just one, a reassuring sign for everyone who has been following his journey. Aloka is now resting and beginning the slow, careful process of recovery.
As per the recent Instagram post on Aloka’s Instagram page, one of the monks, Bhikkhu Pannakara gently spoke to Aloka, explaining that he would need to stay at a rehabilitation center for a while to heal properly. Though clearly unhappy about being left behind, this pause is necessary so his body can fully recover.
Surrounded by care and love, Aloka is in good hands, and everyone is hopeful that he will soon return, stronger than ever, to walk beside the monks once again.
