An all-inclusive weekend jaunt from dusty Delhi to reinvigorating Rishikesh is an offer most of us won’t turn down. Now “paws” for a moment and imagine the trip with a farting English bulldog named Hiccup, a Labrador called Gabbar, a pug that answers to Amigo, their human parents and plenty of room fresheners.
Dog lovers and parents are familiar with the gut-wrenching guilt that those limpid pools of brown doggy eyes can heap on you the moment you try to tip-toe out of the home, for say work. The dog does not care for the most legitimate of reasons as long as it is not included in the “outing”. Now multiply that guilt by, say, 1,000 and throw in a melancholy-bluesy doggy whimper for going on a “dog-less” vacation.
Yes, most resorts in India are not pet-friendly and even those that claim to be, impose restrictions like not allowing dogs on beds or in dining halls. The dog still does not care. The situation gets worse around the holiday season. While the entire world is literally living out of a suitcase, breathing in copious quantities jet engine fumes and breaking social media with selfies, a dog parent is still debating whether to attempt a vacation or drop it once again. If the pet parent decides to go ahead anyway, the next big question is who to put in-charge of his/her precious canine cargo?
While many people end up travelling with their dogs at an individual level, Pet Fed founder Akshay Gupta decided to change things along with MakeMyTrip by organising a “first-of-its-kind” BYOD (Bring Your Own Dog) getaway for 12 dogs and their parents to Bull’s Retreat in Shivpuri, a village in Rishikesh, in June. Pet Fed organises events for dogs and their parents across the country.
Jatin Maggo, who went on the outing with his 10-month-old Toy Pom Mia, said: “What could be better than going on a vacation without feeling guilty about leaving your dog behind?”
Mr. Gupta said the idea to organise an outstation trip with dogs came up during a meeting. “We felt that pet parents would love to escape Delhi’s heat without having to worry about leaving their dogs behind. The resort we zeroed-in on is pet-friendly in principle. However, to ensure all the 12 dogs could go anywhere on the property, we booked the entire place.”
Most people who went on the sojourn heard of it via social media. Since taking the train to Rishikesh was not an option, two luxury buses were roped in to cover the over 200-km-long journey.
“We were extra cautious. The buses were packed with medical supplies, including an oxygen cylinder and nebulizer. There was a vet and a dog behaviourist to monitor all the dogs. Also, all team members and volunteers were trained to identify symptoms of uneasiness. The buses were lined with beds to keep the dogs comfortable,” said Mr. Gupta.
“Typically, a dog gives warning signs like hyperactivity, sulking or hiding under its owner’s legs. To get them accustomed to a vehicle, we asked the owners to start driving them around in the city a few days before the trip. Fortunately, none of the dogs had to be given calming pills. We took regular breaks and did not feed any dog in the bus to keep them from throwing up,” said dog behaviourist Aaron.
The trip, which cost Rs.6,500 per person, included travel, accommodation, meals and activities. There was no extra cost for the dogs. The only thing the resort asked for was the dogs to be kept on a leash to prevent any mishaps on the rocky terrain.
Pragya Verma, who travelled with her five-year-old Labrador Eva, said: “The resort had nice staff members and huge grounds. Though I was repeatedly asked to keep her on a leash, I let Eva walk around since she is well-trained. It was a lovely trip and we all enjoyed immensely. The only flipside was the traffic. A pet-friendly resort closer to Delhi may have worked out better.”
Akshay Arora and his nearly three-year-old golden retriever Brian were not quite sure what to expect, but “everyone — the pet parents and the pets — all got along fabulously”.
The trip, however, wasn’t without its share of planned activities like a dip in the Ganges and a nature walk.
“Brian was among the first to jump in and the last to come out. I can safely speak for all the dogs when I say they loved this activity the most,” said Akshay.
The best part about the trip, as most of the pet parents put it was that “everything was in place and we only had to show up with our dogs”.
