Our AMAZING volunteers! From left to right, Dr Wendi, Monica, Dr Sarah, Helen, Dr Alicia, and Trish, posing in front of Thiksey Monastery in Ladakh 64277810_2771141236291149_995160625611014144_n
Geordie is a dear friend we've known for 4 years, and was directly the impetus for this Treat, Spay, Love journey after an eye wound last summer. He doesn't always venture this close to Thiksey Monastery, but when he does, he poses for his LIFE. 64844093_2771329932938946_8769119549552328704_n
A statue of Maitreya, the Future Buddha, at Thiksey. 62610817_2771326236272649_2889149711753674752_n
Stakna monastery as seen from Thiksey 64379371_2771145742957365_5255809591022714880_n
Diana, aka Dirty Diana or Dirty D, was also sterilized at Nang and returned to Thiksey. She was in heat when we left last summer and it pained us to not be able to help her then. 64832957_2771214319617174_5564055047349731328_n
Hugh! (Send good thoughts to Hugh as he apparently has a bad veneral tumour that is causing big problems; he is currently at the Dr in Leh) 64361825_2772117732860166_1490355528612708352_n
Young novices during morning puja 64409560_2771114172960522_6360199081876258816_n
The Mahasiddha Kukkuripa, supreme dog lover, as painted at Stakna Monastery. Read more at https://tricycle.org/magazine/kukkuripa-dog-lover/ :: In Kapilavastu there lived a Brahmin named Kukkuripa. Puzzling over the problems of existence, he came to place his trust in the Tantra, and in time chose the path of renunciation. He began his itinerant career by begin his way slowly toward the caves of Lumbini.
One day, on the road to the next town, he heard a soft whining in the underbrush. When he investigated, he found a young dog so starved he could no longer stand. Moved to pity, he picked her up and carried her with him on his long journey, sharing the contents of his begging bowl, and watching with delight as she began to grow strong and healthy.
By the time they arrived in Lumbini, Kukkuripa had become so accustomed to her affectionate, good-natured company that he could not imagine living without her. And so he searched for an empty cave large enough for them both. Every day, when he went out begging, she would stand guard, waiting patiently for his return.
So deeply involved was Kukkuripa in the continuous recitation of his mantra, that twelve years pass as quickly as one. Almost without realizing it, the yogin attained the magical powers of prescience and divine insight. But the gods of the Thirty-three Sensual Heavens had taken notice. In fact, they were so impressed that they invited him to celebrate his achievements by visiting their paradise. Flattered, and amazed by their attentions, he accepted the invitation and embarked upon a ceaseless round of self-indulgent feasting and pleasure. On earth, his faithful dog waited patiently for her master to return. Although she had to root around for whatever she could find to eat, she never strayed far from the cave.
And, in truth, she was not forgotten. Despite his luxurious existence, Kukkuripa sorely missed his loving companion. Again and again he told the gods that he needed to return to the cave to care for her.
But his heavenly hosts urged him to stay, saying: “How can you even think about returning to a dog in a dark cave when you are enjoying our good favor and every luxury and comfort we can offer? Don’t be so foolish—remain with us here.” Time and time again, Kukkuripa allowed himself to be persuaded.
But one day when he looked down from the Thirty-three Heavens, he realized that his loyal dog was pining for him—her eyes were sad, her tail drooped, and she was so thin he could see her ribs. Kukkuripa’s heart ached for her. Then and there he descended from paradise to rejoin her in the cave.
The dog leaped and pranced with joy when she caught sight of her beloved master. But no sooner did he sit down and begin to scratch her favorite spot, just behind the ears, than she vanished from sight! There before him, wreathed in a cloud of glory, stood a radiantly beautiful dakini.
“Well done!” she cried. “Well done! You have proved your worth by overcoming temptation. Now that you have returned, supreme power is yours. You have learned that the mundane power of the gods is delusory, for they still retain the notion of self. Theirs is the realm of fallible pleasure. But now your dakini can grant you supreme realization—immaculate pleasure without end.”
The she taught him how to achieve the symbolic union of skillful means and perfect insight. As an irreversible, infallible vision of immutability arose in his mindstream, he did indeed attain the state of supreme realization.
Renowned as Guru Kukkuripa, the Dog Lover, he returned to Kapilavastu, where he lived a long life of selfless service. And in due time, he ascended to the Paradise of the Dakinis with a vast entourage of disciples. 64404253_2771150776290195_4616092968405696512_n
Hugh passes by a "mani wall" at the base of Thiksey monastery (a wall that is topped with many rocks inscribed with the mantra of compassion Om Mani Padme Hum). 62519931_2771277122944227_417549728310362112_n
Nerbles photobombs his probable-Papa, Singay 63947800_2771275946277678_6264054581097922560_n
<3 It was hard to bring the dogs to live at the rescue center, but not only was it Rinpoche's request, but now at least they will be guaranteed food throughout the winter. 62551045_2772092056196067_5027159881669410816_n
A row of pups at Thiksey 64634264_2772093279529278_6182115933759209472_n
Nerbles is a ham 64918495_2772093259529280_8353887334055280640_n
Building bridges through cookies 64127718_2770982076307065_701483719826866176_n
Downtown Leh Bazaar 64357675_2771271379611468_3313119943725154304_n
Geordie is a staple at Chamba Hotel. He's no dummy, he knows where the food is. 64501002_2771113262960613_5161733374695440384_n
62645573_2770983539640252_2282726735017410560_n
The interior of Thiksey's photang teaching palace 64725549_2771364889602117_1440615340559040512_n
Making friends with milk 64735227_2772074702864469_4220629409335345152_n
Young novice monk Norbu steps up to the plate and blows the horns pre-morning prayers 64569130_2771191429619463_8441051882851401728_n
The scene from the roof of Thiksey monastery looking south 64292840_2771371716268101_225321560670470144_n
Conchs being blown before morning prayers at Thiksey 62511023_2770983729640233_2534771019562876928_n
Sponsoring morning tea at Thiksey's puja 64320895_2772090579529548_4267492377322586112_n
The Prayer Wheel meeting point 62611700_2771169789621627_6707316002276769792_n
Geordie accompanies us during our walk to lunch at Cafe Cloud (until I had to walk him back home, haha...) 64456009_2771347466270526_6804056799134613504_n
The area ooutside Stanzin's house is a happening place for Thiksey pups 64282057_2770985136306759_377681333607989248_n
The weather got weird in late May! 64632113_2771238369614769_7290859799896391680_n
We were happy for the snow in the mountains, as Thiksey has had a few dry summers as of late. 64259952_2771145702957369_3959683809363886080_n
Junie 62513476_2771123722959567_4452488739159015424_n
Helen and Jamyang, post-tea 64274987_2771196549618951_8614563618102444032_n
A beautiful statue of Avolokitsvara (Chenrezig), the Bodhisattva of Compassion, inside Dhukang Karmo at Thiksey. Compassion was obviously a HUGE topic on this trip! 62577914_2771285656276707_7075243954781814784_n
View from Thiksey Monastery toward the south 64670462_2771376849600921_3867095653175787520_n
Singay is the master of holding hands. 62624261_2771244179614188_8573956171197579264_n
Our Portland, OR vets, Wendi & Alicia <3 64239761_2771177599620846_3657044595323174912_n
The Indus River by Stakna 64654431_2771289392943000_1425346061806862336_n
Heroic pose for a little guy 62540282_2771126852959254_3523438148543578112_n
Rigzin and Dr. Namgyal greet our crew for a meeting at the Nang facility. 64339870_2771215009617105_2440499983519055872_n
Rigzin shows us this resilient one-legged lady at Nang 64556211_2771259826279290_1738235107925295104_n
Helen & the donkeys at Nang 64527199_2771252906279982_8665221078026551296_n
Dr. Sarah, Dr. Iqbal, and Dr. Namgyal 62594788_2770985299640076_933315965586767872_n
Some of the dogs of Nang 62513656_2772072262864713_8508348166339297280_n
Some dogs at the rescue facility at Nang 64227801_2772072326198040_2752069529784811520_n
Nang pups 64430506_2772078446197428_5858662651072086016_n
The crew (minus BJ, the photographer) at the Indua River at Stakna 62593381_2770987072973232_6242763337289957376_n
Cozying up on a windy night 64250817_2771226112949328_6242569733049155584_n
Singay & Trish 64328392_2771150909623515_4726392045009108992_n
Nerbles, the little guy who captured my heart. 62602355_2771155372956402_7599243695904260096_n
Helen and Trish inspect the local Ladakhi breed of cows at a breeding center in Leh 64391747_2771264356278837_8333967224196825088_n
Monica the Puppy Whisperer 64222661_2771174859621120_4377265595310145536_n
Getting the dogs used to the cage we will use the next day to transport them to Nang 64349649_2771128176292455_1240108511786958848_n
Getting comfortable! 64236691_2771131609625445_2340191791120121856_n
The pre-op waiting room at Nang for our Thiksey puppies 64322312_2771220946283178_1600563246966767616_n
Trishg, Dr Sarah, and Dr Alicia pre-op 64443370_2771322222939717_5395154659570614272_n
Dr Sarah on shaving duty (with BJ's own hair clippers, haha...) 63886248_2771155466289726_9095735444292763648_n
Monica addresses some pre-surgery jitters with TLC. 62590342_2771105979628008_352755108653563904_n
Dr. Alicia drops in on Nurse Helen's post-op recovery room 62578676_2771232082948731_2976314870435151872_n
Our makeshift recovery room <3 64243095_2771302996274973_8882362306546106368_n
Randi poses gracefully upon her return to Thiksey. 64686166_2772117369526869_7277684699953102848_n
Loading some of the bigger the dogs on the morning of the surgery 64502344_2771110452960894_7997884246578429952_n
Geordie escaped surgery THIS time! He's a true escape artist and a real goober! <3 64657649_2771133542958585_5740740638878466048_n
Team meeting at Live to Rescue's Nang facility <3 64428984_2772233722848567_2709183027203801088_n
Dr Alicia provides Dr Wendi with a bit of light. 62648379_2771117402960199_4359797147273527296_n
Helen <3 64224755_2770986919639914_805833798573883392_n
All hands on deck. 64634022_2771196609618945_7259133997467303936_n
Dr Alicia <3 64581672_2770988366306436_5395276765490839552_n
Taking careful notes of the procedures and meditacations 64523183_2771159722955967_7215110741597093888_n
Sterilization surgery at Nang 64663084_2772126322859307_7476722941967728640_n
Monica and Trish handle the Bravecto feeding the the young ones, to take care of skin parasites for 3 months. 62643200_2771136989624907_920298104396185600_n
A cozy redovery puddle 64886541_2771202126285060_2069970311624785920_n
Trish the Transporter 62593694_2772076122864327_8071854655841239040_n
Dr Wendi displaying her techniques 64751109_2772126119525994_1805978939890335744_n
Monica goes right to the source in the Thiksey puppy holding pen 64216069_2770989566306316_7964900967919386624_n
A well-deserved and delicious lunch break at Nang! 64654526_2771311499607456_8731001650375819264_n
Dr Wendi <3 64789671_2772076062864333_2107394805511225344_n
Dr Wendi mid-spay 64360477_2771160092955930_1809938946981888000_n
The Ladakhi vet tech team was second-to-none! <3 64484644_2771164386288834_907907755107418112_n
Not taking any chances with this feisty lady (Morgan) 64209388_2771182956286977_3687174868941406208_n
Dr Wendi showing Ladakhi vets some of her techniques at their request. She is am amazingly talented shelter vet surgeon! 64656698_2772077916197481_1574124167026966528_n
Nerbles and his (half?) siblings 64237480_2771319296273343_8405979888581869568_n
Our team (minus BJ and Lobsang, the photographers) during our surgery day at Nang 64424362_2771356776269595_6471869064795914240_n
Monica going all in 64661356_2772091969529409_3962939690926997504_n
Releasing the sterilized adult females back at Thiksey--this is Diana! 64276489_2771138932958046_864806405377359872_n
The Ladakhi crew at Nang was invaluable! <3 63624839_2772084176196855_2176689623181295616_n
Our friend Stanzin at Stakmo monastery 64522266_2771202082951731_6548574045376348160_n
Our friend Stanzin at Stakmo 64689922_2771118516293421_451656359960641536_n
A view of Thiksey from the back side 62600065_2771171529621453_1825696048119545856_n
Sherub and Norbu singing a song about Tsongkhapa, the founder of the Gelug sect of Tibetan Buddhism 64422368_2771242529614353_8561105367054942208_n
Scoping out family wedding videos at our friend's house! Ladakhi weddings are quite an event! 64500390_2771108136294459_786383407813754880_n
Visiting Stakmo monastery and taking a spin around the prayer wheel 64606189_2771141066291166_89598365028843520_n
Stanzin explaining some images at Stakmo to us 64309404_2771231822948757_2679810553320308736_n
Helen meets and greets Singay and Randi 64609239_2771185112953428_6750509625084215296_n
Helen making the rounds with Singay and Randi 62536345_2771335659605040_8578050563520856064_n
BJ & Singay 64214102_2771268009611805_6786644872867610624_n
A view from our friend's backyard 64301668_2771284796276793_8270144177681989632_n
We had the privilege to see our friend's family photos, such a treasure! 64415049_2771120216293251_6708369527689707520_n
Monica giving the puppies medication at Nang 64214924_2771294012942538_9000349842760794112_n
This is Norbu, the lucky pup who flew to Canada! His two back legs were fractured, but we know he'll recover quickly with Monica's love! 63277305_2771163476288925_6179498430365171712_n
Charlotte 62606621_2771296446275628_2231543515261698048_n
Alicia models three NEW puppies (who will be sterilized later this summer) Cassie, Charlotte, and Theodosia, left to right 64289074_2771304539608152_8699329719721525248_n
Zora Blue is an excellent, protective, loving mama (shown her woth Theodosia and Charlotte) 64929683_2771167892955150_2407307505592958976_n
The courtyard of Hemis monastery 63195673_2771380512933888_5996571619995156480_n
A view from Thiksey facing west toward Shey 64564987_2771225049616101_7442800259471769600_n
Monica & the pups of Nang 62401913_2771095252962414_8137677640992555008_n
Monica in a sea of puppies 63168279_2772097009528905_9024769472027688960_n
We went back to the nang facility to distribute medication for parasites 64363655_2770990212972918_28490790112067584_n
Getting a better view at Nang 62604801_2772096889528917_4979861717530968064_n
CATS dance troupe <3 64713510_2771257296279543_3305026584661983232_n
Monica dancing with the troupe 62637073_2771264619612144_7806929455137423360_n
A wonderful scene from our last night, as viewed from the roof--Randi (white and black with all black head) making new friends! 64312496_2771188262953113_4871120807817904128_n
BJ petting crazy Sandeeples (promise he's not choking her, haha...this was after she ran circles around us for about ten minutes and was out of breath!) 64655337_2771191729619433_8806178661980962816_n
Dr Alicia & Morton, a local dog who shows up at Thiksey when there are teachings 64208984_2771237199614886_4501642982004359168_n
Our crew and our dear friend Chamba 62528295_2771219062950033_6235410980344430592_n
Our talented, compassionate, skilled, wonderful team of vets! 64285882_2771332652938674_7270379428734042112_n
Hugh gets a little familiar 64305612_2770982479640358_3605896920716804096_n
a wonderful photo of Geordie by Alicia! 64418902_2771109012961038_6060832950742679552_n
Apparently I was teaching gang symbols to Randi 63776260_2771088056296467_6232466093068255232_n
Monica and Norbu upon arrival in Delhi--thanks, Air India crew! <3 64408636_2772055716199701_3089402523274969088_n
Diana & Li'l Abner (Abbie) enjoying some cookies post-milk (you can see the milk on Abbie's face!) 64241499_2772402942831645_3098803442181734400_n
Norbu and Monica on their way to the Leh airport in Ladakh! 64668459_2772396029499003_8978653720975769600_n
Norbu says a final farewell to Ladakh! 64637254_2772415949497011_7760405952775323648_n
Quality time with Singay and Colin 64286677_2772412616164011_8604615447347724288_n
Singay challenges a dog on the wall; the other dog hopped off shortly therafter 64232475_2772418519496754_8231531627121999872_n
THESE goobers! Theodosia (with a dusty nose from hiding a cookie), and Cassie 62591942_2772419712829968_6986308883027329024_n
Zora Blue & her pups playing (Cassie, Theodosia, and Charlotte) 64362684_2772429879495618_4826418517618196480_n
Geordie <3 62577985_2772424726162800_6120597781443772416_n
Colin & BJ (he was a little scared by the music--Colin, not BJ) 64681487_2772427432829196_92460913486987264_n
Colin and his girlfriend Trish 64296737_2772429292829010_4301025884241920000_n
For a supermodel, Geordie sure was dificult to pose with. 64292283_2772430642828875_2835259240967307264_n