Aloka the Peace Dog will be with monks in Raleigh, veterinarian tells WRAL

Aloka the Peace Dog, who rose to fame on the Buddhist monks’ 'Walk For Peace,' is recovering “probably better than expected,” according to the veterinary hospital that is caring for him.

“The incision is almost healed at this point, and come Monday, [Aloka] will be allowed into increasing levels of activity,” said Dr. Sophy Jesty, Medical Director of Charleston Veterinary Referrals Center.

Aloka had been walking with the venerable monks since the beginning of their journey in Fort Worth, Texas. While in South Carolina, after noticing limping in the dog’s right hind leg, the monks brought him to a general practitioner, who referred them to Charleston Veterinary Referrals Center.

Aloka underwent orthopedic surgery to repair the knee injury on Jan. 12.

Jesty tells WRAL News that Aloka could have been discharged sooner, but because the monks are on their 2,300-mile journey to Washington, D.C., the monks wanted to keep Aloka with the Charleston Veterinary Referrals Center to heal.

“I think there was some concern with Aloka immediately going back into the environment that he wouldn’t have the best chance of the best recovery, so the monks thought it would be better for Aloka to stay with us for some period of time,” said Jesty.

However, Aloka has been able to reunite with his community.

Their first reunion was last week when Jesty brought Aloka to the monks during one of their early stops in North Carolina.

“Aloka went just absolutely nuts when the monk entered the room. He was so happy to see [the monks' leader], all over him, licking his face, and the monk, you know, held him sort of forehead to forehead and spoke with him. It was very touching,” said Jesty.

Aloka was again reunited with the monks on Thursday.

A post on the official Walk for Peace Facebook page says "it was wonderful to see Aloka reunited with the monks, his tail wagging with happiness."

Aloka's recovery

Once Aloka is back with the monks full-time, don’t expect to see him walking for miles each day.

The recovery protocol allows for controlled, short walks multiple times a day that gradually increase in duration.

At eight weeks post-op, Aloka will have another set of x-rays to confirm that the joint has healed, at which point he’ll be reintroduced to full exercise and activity, according to Jesty.

The monks are expected to arrive in Washington, DC on Feb. 11, which is less than six weeks from when Aloka would be recovered to join their walk. 

Still, Jesty said that Aloka will be in Raleigh with the monks, and it’s likely that supporters and onlookers will get to see Aloka at the monks’ numerous stops leading up to the Washington, D.C. arrival.

“My guess is that... when they stop for their lunch break, when they stop for prayer, when they stop in the evenings, he will be able to be out and about with them then, and that people will be able to see him back with his community," said Jesty.

Who is Aloka the peace dog?

Aloka is an Indian Pariah dog that was found during another one of Venerable Bhikkhu Pannakara's walking journeys in 2022, when he walked 112 days. Aloka's name means "divine light" in Sanskirt. 

The Associated Press reported that Aloka, then a stray, followed the monks from Kolkata in eastern India all the way to the Nepal border. At one point, he fell critically ill and Pannakara scooped him up in his arms and cared for him until he recovered.

Now, Aloka inspires him to keep going when he feels like giving up.

“I named him light because I want him to find the light of wisdom,” Pannakara said.