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Indra Lahiri of Indraloka Animal Sanctuary – Why NEPA? image
Why NEPA?
January 28, 2025
Indra Lahiri of Indraloka Animal Sanctuary – Why NEPA?
Indra Lahiri, Executive Director of Indraloka Animal Sanctuary, has spent two decades in Northeastern Pennsylvania, creating a space where compassion for both animals and people thrives.
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"It's beautiful here, first of all, and I’m someone whose soul is fed by nature...breathing the air and seeing the rolling hills, it’s just so gorgeous."

Indra Lahiri, Executive Director of Indraloka Animal Sanctuary, has spent her life creating safe spaces for animals and fostering connections between people. Born in Rochester, NY, and raised in Bucks County, PA, Indra’s love for animals started young. She recalls rescuing animals as soon as she could walk and being deeply comforted by her childhood dog, Ponda. Those early experiences shaped her lifelong mission of compassion and care.

Indra attended the Sulbury School in New Hope, PA, before earning her undergraduate degree in Developmental Psychology and English Literature, with a minor in Peace and World Order Studies, from Catholic University. She went on to complete graduate work at the University of Pennsylvania and a doctorate in Organizational Psychology, along with certifications in Human Resources and Traumatic Stress Studies.

Her career began in corporate America, where she specialized in diversity, equity and inclusion, working with organizations like Texaco and Coca-Cola. Over time, her consulting work funded her growing animal rescue efforts. In 2005, with 100 animals in her care, Indra founded Indraloka Animal Sanctuary on 30 acres in Mehoopany. In 2021, the sanctuary moved to its current home in The Abingtons, where it continues to grow.

Today, Indraloka provides lifetime care for rescued farm animals and offers programs that go beyond animal care. Under Indra’s guidance, the sanctuary includes a veterinary clinic, educational opportunities for kids and resilience programs for people recovering from trauma.

In late December, as snow gently fell across the farm, we sat in the Art Barn beside oversized windows overlooking the sprawling property. Her rescue dog played nearby as we chatted about her recent trip to India to visit her mom, her commitment for creating a more compassionate world, and, of course, Why NEPA?

How long have you lived in NEPA?

I have lived here for almost 20 years. 20 years in 2025.

What do you love about your town?

Oh gosh, well, so many things. I would say the first one is that kindness is a part of the culture here. I think that’s a really beautiful piece about this region. The other thing that I love is how small the community is. Anything that you want to get done, you either know who to call, or you know someone who knows who to call. So, I feel like for a nonprofit, it’s a dream, you know, because we can really make a difference in this community in a way that maybe in a big, big city we wouldn’t be able to.

What’s your favorite NEPA restaurant?  

Maximum Zen Bakery. It’s a sweet little place located in the Jaya Yoga studio. Donna, who’s the chef there, is so very, very talented. She uses locally sourced ingredients. It’s all whole foods, plant-based. And she’s just a genius. I mean, she makes the most delicious baked goods and such wonderful foods. And it’s all healthy, and it’s all natural. She also really makes a point of trying to keep it affordable, which I think is so wonderful.

What’s your favorite thing to do in NEPA?

I love hiking in this area. This is such a beautiful, beautiful region for hiking, and we have so many lovely parks and trails. Lackawanna State Park is fantastic, as is Frances Slocum. If I want to take a drive a little further, I love World’s End. World’s End is beautiful. Ricketts Glen is lovely. I mean, you have so many choices.

What’s next for you?

Well, you know, in 2025, a lot of very exciting things are happening. It’s our 20th anniversary and it’s my personal 20th anniversary here in Northeastern PA as well. So, we have a lot of exciting things happening. We are expanding our vet clinic. We’re looking right now for a second veterinarian so that we can open up on evenings and weekends and hopefully help even more people be able to keep their animal companions.

At the same time, we’re continuing to expand on our trauma recovery services and our resilience-building opportunities. We are also starting to build out services around intentionally building joy into your life so that you can have that whole arc, you know. And so, wherever you are in the course of your life, whether you’ve experienced a trauma or whether you just want to be more intentional about creating joy, we want to offer help. We know that the way to do that is through spending time outside in nature and with animals, who are so brilliant about their own recovery from trauma and their own ability to intentionally build joy.

Where do you see NEPA heading in the future?

You know, there are some pretty exciting things happening in the region right now. There’s a lot of work being done between the nonprofits, looking at ways that we can work more and more closely together so that nobody falls through the gaps. That is something that I’m just so excited about. I think it’s really going to make a difference in terms of creating a community that is healthy, happy and really can be a model for the rest of the country. I think we can create—intentionally create—a culture that is resilient and full of joy, and I think we are the people to do it. And that’s an opportunity because, right now, as we know, we’re facing an unprecedented mental health crisis. So, we can turn this whole thing around. I think that if the nonprofits keep working together the way that we are, and partnering with the government organizations, other community organizations, and schools, if we really, really continue to focus on collaboration, I think we can do it!

Why NEPA?

Well, it’s beautiful here, first of all, and I’m someone whose soul is fed by nature. So, being out here, you know, breathing the air and seeing the rolling hills, and just looking out the window right now as the snow’s falling, it’s just so gorgeous. So, that’s one big piece of it. And I love the kindness of the community. I’m an introvert, so I do better in a small community. I like the fact that I know the people that I run into in the grocery store. It’s not intimidating for me here. It’s the opposite of intimidating; it’s quite welcoming.

Spotlight On
Volunteer Spotlight: Indraloka Animal Sanctuary
Volunteer Spotlight: Indraloka Animal Sanctuary Image
Tara Kavanaugh
Videographer
Indraloka Animal Sanctuary
Indraloka Animal Sanctuary Image
Joseph Ridilla
Videographer
Ryan Wood
Videographer