It may have been fate that made Kristina Masalova and Eugene Petrus, a Ukrainian couple traveling around Asia, miss the turn to their hotel in southwestern India a year ago.
As they struggled to find the hotel, they happened upon a homeless puppy that they decided to adopt. For Chapati, as they named the dog, it was a pivotal moment. She went from homeless Indian dog to soon-to-be internet celebrity.
When found, the month-old Chapati had no mother and was in terrible shape. The couple brought her back to health, shared the story on social media and it quickly went viral. Today, Chapati has her own Instagram page with more than 24,000 followers.
The dog and family now travel together. They have visited five Asian countries and took a road trip through Europe. Today they live in Ukraine.
First sight
Masalova, 30, and Petrus, 32, heard weeping while returning to their hotel in Kochi, where they spotted a puppy laying on a meter-high pedestal, unable to get down, with no water or food. Her leg was broken.
“She was overheated, dehydrated and hungry. She couldn’t stand on her paws,” Masalova recalls.
They brought the puppy to their hotel room, gave her food and care. After a visit to a veterinarian, they treated the dog for five days. By the time the dog recovered, Masalova and Petrus decided to keep her.
Chapati, an Indian pariah dog adopted by Ukrainian couple Kristina Masalova and Eugene Petrus at Boudhanath stupa, Kathmandu, Nepal in March, 2017. (Courtesy)
The Indian name, Chapati, stands for local yellowish flatbread — resembling the puppy’s yellowish coat. “The word is funny and it gives a sense of where it comes from,” Masalova said.
They extended their planned two-week stay to two months to get their pet vaccinated, apply a microchip implant, get her a passport and all necessary certificates.
When all was done, the three of them went on with their Asian trip. Over the next six months they visited Nepal, Thailand, Myanmar and the Philippines.
Chapati changed their trip in many ways. The couple had to switch from low-cost airlines to airlines that would carry pets, which was hard on the budget. Moreover, the time they could stay in a country now depended on the animal export and import regulations.
During the long trip, they saw many beautiful places, but acquiring Chapati “overshadowed everything,” Masalova said.
Instagram star
The family returned to Ukraine in July with Chapati. But the trips continued — Italy, Austria, Czech Republic, Slovenia, Hungary and Poland in summer.
By then, the Instagram star became known as Traveling Dog Chapati. The account is full of photos of Chapati proudly sitting in front of the St. Peter’s Basilica, admiring the Milan Cathedral and yawning next to the Coliseum.
Masalova and Petrus, who manage her Instagram account, receive hundreds of comments and messages from people all over the world seeking advice on traveling with pets.
The couple also gives public talks and supports charity events.
Masalova says that she has always cared about animals and wanted to save thousands of them.
But it all goes back to their one act of human kindness to give a homeless puppy a better life.
“It triggers changes inside yourself and inside people that surround you,” she said. “We helped one dog but we talk to so many people every day who now do the same.”
