Pet parenthood: First-time owners reflect on the hard work, commitment and care
Taru Bahl
THE strict lockdowns during the Covid-19 pandemic saw a surge in the adoption of cats and dogs the world over. Cooped up in homes and living by themselves, lack of social interaction made many people adopt animals. However, post-pandemic, this trend reversed with abandonment and relinquishment of pets being commonplace due to loss of jobs, or pet-owners succumbing to Covid or finding the pet hard to manage.
Mandira Bakshi (22), a behaviour therapist, feels that this rising trend of having pets is because “pets, particularly dogs, provide comfort and succour. They are unconditional in giving love, which is why choosing to have them and not look after their needs and emotions is criminal. The only way I was allowed to bring Casper, our beagle, who was shipped from Ireland to Singapore and now Greater Noida, was if I would take responsibility of being the primary caregiver. I educated myself seeing countless videos, reading up on dog behaviour and doing everything a parent would do for a newborn.”
Arjun Srivasstava (34), a Mumbai-based film maker and editor, has always been a dog person but could not convince his parents. On his 17th birthday, he just brought home Fluke, a black labrador, giving no one the chance to resist. The entire family has today been converted into dog lovers. “After Fluke, the only way to move on and fill the void left by his passing was to get another pet. We got Castro, a golden retriever, who has filled our life with a different energy,” says Arjun.
Gurgaon-based businesswoman Vineeta Vaid Bhalla is quite upfront: “I could not have dealt with the devastation of losing my mother, had it not been for the playful and loving Zippy, a daschund, who literally absorbed the heaviness in our home at that time and forced me to take him for walks, cuddle him and get healed in the process.”
As more and more pets get adopted, there has been a spike in the commercial animal products and services segment — from dog walkers to trainers to an entire industry of animal products and services. All you have to do is make a few enquiries and check credentials or references on Instagram. Says Arjun, “You can book a grooming session for your pet online and have a professional come in less than three hours. At-home boutique services extend not just to bathing, nail trimming and tick removal, but taking the pet to the vet and booking owners for exclusive pet treks.”
Many pet parents, most under 30 and single, are happy to enrol for these pet excursions and get their pet a change from apartment living, besides bonding and spending quality time with their fur babies. Closer home, many cafes, restaurants and shopping malls are creating pet zones or special time slots where people can bring in their pets. Shirish Mehta runs a deli in Mehrauli where pets are welcome. He opted to do this because many of his clients are young and mostly single. Having a dedicated pet area was welcomed and contributed to an increase in his revenues.
Mandira, however, is quick to point out that in many places, having a pet-friendly zone is still a formality. Often, the area demarcated for pets is not as clean and hygienic compared to what they have for humans. Though she says dog parents and owners must also take 100 per cent responsibility for their pets. She always has Casper on a leash when taking it out. “You have to respect others who may be scared or uncomfortable having dogs around. More NGOs are needed to set up shelters, vaccinate stray dogs and cauterise them. Many people are rescuing strays and finding homes for them. This needs to be taken to scale,” she feels.
When Samyak Jain (28) was transferred to the US in 2020, his biggest worry was where he would leave his two cats, Karan and Arjun, till he got requisite permits to get them. Fortunately, his parents offered to take care of his cats. Samyak hopes to have his pets join him later this year but in the interim makes daily video calls and interacts with them.
According to Dr Vimal Kumar, a Delhi-based psychologist who rescues cats and houses them, “It’s not humanely to abandon pets when people no longer need them. I have rescued my own cat’s newborns who she left in a nullah across the road. Yes, cats are easier to manage, handle and afford but the number of people across age groups who are rescuing animals, including birds and bats, is definitely increasing. Social media makes it easier to follow animal influencers and reach them for parenting tips.”
All pet lovers agree that keeping a pet is a lot of hard work. They also feel it is important to acknowledge that pets can get depressed and lonely. Says Arjun, “You are their family. For a committed pet parent, the pet is not necessarily a substitute for a human baby. It is, perhaps, a step closer to taking on the responsibilities of having a family. It gives you first-hand experience of assessing yourself if you would make a good parent.”
