One would be hard-pressed not to be aware of the group of monks that recently completed a 15-week journey across the United States to promote peace.
The Theravada Buddhist monks started in their hometown of Fort Worth, Texas, and walked more than 2,300 miles to Washington, D.C. (they arrived Feb. 10) to highlight their cause. Thousands lined the streets to support them, handing them gifts and doling out encouragement. And millions more have followed on social media.
Inadvertently — in a good way — a side cause was brought to the attention of everyone who has followed the event. Aloka, the monks’ dog, has become an international star. From just being there every step of the way to providing a friendly face to ease children and adults alike into the cause, Aloka has become a national symbol of peace. Add in her brief time off for a medical procedure that endeared her even more, and she has grabbed everyone’s heart.
Before being adopted by the monks, Aloka was a street dog. She survived by getting handouts, while hoping not to succumb to disease and other dangers. She found her forever people during another peace walk by the monks in India in 2022.
Not all street dogs are so lucky. That is where organizations like Let’s Save the Strays International come in.
Let’s Save the Strays was founded in 2018 by Wayland resident Dr. Amy Shroff, a Wayland resident who formerly owned Veterinary Emergency & Specialty Center of New England (VESCONE) in Waltham and was then a staff veterinarian in various locations in eastern Massachusetts.
“I thought it was time for me to give back to the community and make more of a global impact,” she said of the sale.
Her father was from India, and one year after he passed away, she decided to visit there. After many trips back to Asia, she began volunteering at the Elephant Nature Park in Thailand. The owner told her about the plight of homeless dogs in Myanmar. Dr. Shroff visited and that’s where Let’s Save the Strays was conceived.
The nonprofit organization promotes animal welfare and education in the poorest areas around the world. Its humane treatment program includes a Trap, Neuter, Vaccinate, and Release program (TNVR) where local veterinarians and workers on the ground care for homeless or street dogs and cats.
Aloka’s fame has brought the need for such programs to light.
“There are many, many dogs out there struggling like Aloka could have been,“ Shroff said. “Let’s let Aloka be a hope for a better future for these dogs. The dogs we treat had the same needs that Aloka had before he found the monks.
“He’s one of the lucky ones. He was following them on a pilgrimage and he continued to follow them after it was over. They adopted him and now he has food, safety, and happiness. The dogs we treat don’t have that.”
Shroff decided to focus on Myanmar because it’s one of the poorest countries in the world. It has been in a civil war since 2021 and is now recovering from a major earthquake in March 2025. Let’s Save the Strays were the first responders for animals after the natural disaster.
Let’s Save the Strays is not an organization that’s looking for homes for these animals. By neutering, they’re helping control overpopulation, while vaccinations keep the animals and the local community healthy. Shroff pointed out that the animals will live long lives this way.
“The monks and their dog represent peace and happiness and working for good,” she said. “What we do is similar in a way — we’re working to improve their communities.”
For more information or to donate, visit letssavethestrays.org.
