Hyderabad: Organisers of a pet show held at the Dog Park, Gachibowli, on Sunday turned the event into a platform to promote the adoption of stray dogs, or indies, and found a heartening response from dog parents and potential adopters.
Several dog owners brought their pets for the competition, which included several categories and rounds, including obedience, cuteness, best fancy-dressed and physically challenged. The event saw several puppies and grown up dogs being put up for adoption.
Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, Tanya and Deepak, who had brought their two-year-old pet Nyra, said, “As animal lovers, we love all animals. But there is a growing trend among people seeking foreign breeds, which is often a snobbish style statement rather than genuine love for animals. These breeds are often not suited for Indian conditions.”
Several animal parents — dog owners prefer being called that — said that bringing up a pet was no different than bring up a human baby, and bemoaned that several dog parents do not end up giving enough time, attention, love and care to their pets.
Several families, especially kids, with pets used the event to interact and make friends, and sharing crucial information and deciding to come together to address commonly faced challenges.
Dog parents spoke about how they are often at the receiving end of people without pets, especially in their apartment complexes and gated communities, over their pets.
The event, organised jointly by Mars Petcare, a pet nutrition product range, Petsy, an online pet store, and VSAWRD, an animal welfare organisation, was attended by Arvind Kumar, special chief secretary, municipal administration and urban development.
The event is being extended online with a three-day adoption program going on.
