Salvador Who? Meet Dali, India’s First Painter Dog Who’s Saving Strays One Stroke At A Time

Last Updated:July 17, 2025, 15:45 IST

Dali, a rescued Labrador in India, creates art to fund dog rescues. Her paintings have raised ₹35,000 for strays.

Dali is making art that sells across the world. (Image Credit: Instagram)

When Dali was just 45 days old, she was found abandoned and tied up- one of countless stray dogs left behind in India every year. But today, the Labrador is making art that sells across the world. And the money? It goes straight to rescuing dogs like her.

Hoi Choudhury, who adopted Dali, said, “She used to snatch the brush from my husband, who is an artist. She’d run off with it playfully. One of our friends joked that maybe it’s her way of protesting- maybe she actually wants to be part of it. So we let her try, and when she touched the canvas, we were overjoyed. It was like she was saying, ‘I want to paint too!’"

That first stroke set the tone. Soon after, Hoi Choudhury and her partner Snehangshu Debnath began experimenting with ways to help Dali paint safely. Snehangshu Debnath said, “We did some research and realised we needed a dog-friendly brush. So we made one at home using a wooden block, carefully carved to fit her jaw."

Using that handmade tool, Dali began creating large, abstract paintings- often layered, textured and surprisingly confident. The couple picked twelve of her strongest pieces and released them as a limited-edition calendar. The entire proceeds- ₹35,000 so far- are being used to fund treatment and rescue work for stray and injured dogs.

Snehangshu Debnath said, “We thought we would sell these paintings worldwide and people actually bought them. They appreciated the idea, and they understood where the money was going."

Dali’s Instagram now has nearly 50,000 followers. Her page is full of short videos, messy paws, behind-the-scenes clips and the occasional finished piece taped up on the wall. The bio reads: India’s 1st Painter Dog and the comments are a mix of disbelief, gratitude and immense praise.

“I will never understand how people can hurt or abandon a pet," one user wrote while another said, “She is a sweetheart. God bless the couple who adopted her." Someone who ordered the calendar chimed in, “I’m so glad to have your calendar with some of your paintings!!! Beautiful works of art!!"

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