Indiana: South Africa’s Vegan Rescue Dog

Celebrating Life and Compassion

Meet Indi, our four-year-old rescue dog from Cape Town, whose vibrant spirit and love for adventure have captured the hearts of many. From the moment we welcomed her into our family during lockdown, Indi has given us immense love and a deeper empathy and connection to non-human animals.

You’ll always find Indi embracing life, whether it be hiking on the mountains, running around the dog park, or playing with friends. She’s an adventurer at heart. She joins us in restaurants while we’re hunting for the best vegan food around, sometimes getting some sneaky nibbles along the way. Somehow, she always manages to convince the staff to give her some treats.

When we embraced veganism, our focus was first on our direct impact. As we became more comfortable in our vegan lifestyle, we started looking at Indi’s impact. During our travels, we were delighted to discover various vegan dog food and treat options. When we returned to South Africa, Indi was spoilt with the most exciting dog treats and chews. Knowing what was possible, we did extensive research and attended a talk by VegaPro at The Plant Powered Show. Contrary to common misconceptions, we have learnt that dogs can thrive on a carefully formulated plant-based diet. Following this, we felt empowered to give it a try. Indi has been happy on VegaPro for the last year with the same bubbly personality and thirst for adventure.

Indi recently celebrated her 4th birthday on Valentine's Day. We asked the Instagram community for help in creating a fully vegan and cruelty-free birthday cake. The call was answered with enthusiasm and Indi was surprised with the most beautiful cake. Indi enjoyed the special treat that was made from butternut, potato, oat flour and plant-based milk. She also received many birthday gifts, including dehydrated apple slices, mushroom food topper, vegan pupcake mix, and a variety of toys that she loved.

Transitioning Indi to a plant-based diet was a decision that was rooted in our ethical beliefs and desire to minimize harm to animals. We hope that this serves as an inspiration for South African pet owners to follow in her pawprints. Her story highlights the importance of conscious living and compassion towards all beings.

In a world where animals too often suffer at the hands of human consumption, through small acts of compassion and mindful choices, we can all make a difference in the lives of non-human animals. Whether it’s choosing plant-based options or adopting rescue animals, every action has the power to create positive change.

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