Responsible pet parenting, socialisation of pets key to avoiding freak incidents

Hyderabad: Responsible pet parenting is the only answer to avoid recurring incidents like the recent one that took place in Hyderabad where a Swiggy food delivery executive died after jumping off a building to escape a dog.

Philip Bhutt, honorary secretary of the Hyderabad Canine Club, said lack of awareness is a big problem on both fronts. Both animals and human beings are scared of each other and this is what happened in the case of the Swiggy executive, he said. Dogs are not scary animals. At the same time irresponsible pet parents who don’t invest in socialising dogs is another issue. Awareness is the key, he added.

Nitin Jain, sales director of Mars Intl. India, added that one must get to know dogs and other pet animals better and also learn to care for them.

The way we live has changed and now our pets have moved into our homes. They are no longer viewed as animals who hang around the backyard. We now hear of things like “pet parents,” “humanisation of pets,” etc. A consequence of all these developments is the explosion of the pet care industry. With an estimated size of about Rs. 8,000 to 10,000 crores in India and growing at a pace of 14% annually, India is among the fastest growing pet care industries across the globe, he added

Pet adoptions in India

India saw a rapid rise in pet adoptions during the Covid-19 pandemic. Isolated in their homes, cut off from their families and friends, many found companionship in their pets. Having pets at home has existed from time immemorial, but India saw a rapid increase in pet adoptions during the past decade. This further increased during the Covid-19 pandemic. It is now estimated that there are over 2 crore adopted dogs in India. Adoption of cats is catching up fast. It is estimated that 20% of pet parents adopt cats.

The reasons for this adoption are many—ever increasing size of the middle-income group and their capability to spend, increase in the micronuclear families where pets have become the most sought-after companions, and the loneliness humankind faced due to the restrictions during the pandemic.

Petex India to be held in Hyderabad

Petex India, the largest pet industry trade show, will be held at Hitex, Hyderabad, from 27 to 29 January. It is being held after a gap of two years due to the pandemic. Over 20,000 visitors are expected to visit over the three days.

A major event at Petex is Hyderabad’s third international dog show "HyCan’23" which will showcase over 500 dogs belonging to 50 different breeds. They will be judged by eight international judges from Spain, India, Australia, South Africa, Austria, and Sweden. It will be the biggest show in India.

The Indian Cat Federation will hold the International Cat Show. It will feature over 120 cats that will be judged by two international judges from Turkey.

Another unique event will be yoga amidst puppies. People can do yoga classes with Indian-breed puppies. Dogathon, a mini-marathon for pet dogs with their parents, will also be held. It is a mini-run in which the pet parents will make their pets run/walk.

The entry fee for adults is Rs. 300 and for children, it is Rs. 150.