Rearing pets — especially ones that need as much care as dogs — can be quite a challenge in a city. Between the lack of free space, and the long working hours of family members, dogs often receive the short end of the stick. However, a crop of professionally-run boarding centres hopes to turn this around by providing dogs the experience of being pampered silly.
Hotel for Dogs managed by Shravan Krishnan and Adhishwar at Akkarai has had a good run for the past ten months. Shravan says, “We have a 16,000-sq. ft plot with 32 air conditioned kennels, an open play area, swimming pool, pet store, grooming centre, and a pick-up and drop facility. Since we began, over 1,500 dogs have come to us.”
Not only do dogs check in for a day of indulgence, but the centres also take care of the pets when owners are compelled to travel. Nirmiti Prasanna and her husband Prasanna Gopinath, who run the Benzi Pet Stay out of their home in Thuraipakkam, say, “We are open to housing dogs, birds, guinea pigs and almost all other house pets. We believe that only if pets are allowed to move freely do they stay healthy, both mentally and physically. This is why we have a strict policy against chaining or caging. This also means that all the dogs we take in need to be social and friendly because otherwise, it becomes difficult.”
Interestingly, these initiatives have also facilitated the coming together of dog owners and their dogs as a community. 34-year-old Arunodaya Reddy, who runs Harley & Me- Hotel for Dogs, says, “Every Sunday, between 3 and 6, we organise a play date for dogs. Many people bring their dogs and just unwind, spending time together. Not only do the dogs socialise but so do their masters.”