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The Stray Dogs of Landour Network: A True Story by a Failed Dog Trainer

Book Launch by Lalitha Krishnan
Lalitha Krishnan
Book Discussion | Book Launch

Lalitha Krishnan will introduce her new memoir in an interactive session. Released earlier this year, the book is available in both print and e-book formats on Amazon, Pothi.com, and Flipkart. It is a testament to the profound lessons of compassion, resilience, and belonging taught by free-ranging dogs.

The story begins in Landour, where Krishnan, a newly certified dog trainer fighting battles of her own, encounters a troubled stray named Pretty on her doorstep. With a training manual in hand, she intends to help Pretty find a home. But Pretty has a different plan, and with quiet intelligence, she leads Krishnan into her world, introducing her to her pup and the rest of the pack.

Inspired by the philosophy of Ubuntu (“I am because we are”), Krishnan finds herself feeding, training, and caring for a growing network of dogs in an international neighbourhood. In doing so, she begins to heal, learning that her canine companions have as much to teach her as she has to teach them. The dogs, with their innate wisdom and social dynamics, reshape Krishnan’s understanding of love and survival.

The Stray Dogs of Landour Network: A True Story by a Failed Dog Trainer features a foreword by the late travel writer Bill Aitken, who also contributed a chapter titled “Mussoorie Dogs and Dog Lovers I Love.” Krishnan recounts stories shared by authors Stephen Alter and Ganesh Saili, both residents of Landour. Her book is a tribute to the silent, unseen lives of the animals who share our world and the emotional truths they awaken within us.

Review:

“The Stray Dogs of Landour Network is a deeply personal, unflinchingly honest memoir that sits comfortably on the shelf alongside Helen Macdonald’s H Is for Hawk or Sy Montgomery’s The Soul of an Octopus. It is a story of survival, not just of dogs, but of people finding grace in the act of caring without conditions. 

A poignant, slow-blooming debut that blends environmental awareness with emotional depth. Lalitha Krishnan’s voice is one of rare integrity, grounded, observant, and quietly radical in its compassion.”

 — The Literature Today

About the Author:

Lalitha Krishnan is a writer, podcaster, potter, and nature documenter based in Ranikhet in the Indian Himalaya. Her work explores the bonds between humans, animals, and the natural world. A certified dog trainer, Krishnan is passionate about dogs and wildlife and has contributed to publications including Dogs & Pups Magazine, Garhwal Post, RoundGlass Sustain, and Sanctuary Asia, among others.


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