A dog gets pampered at Paws. Pictures by Pabitra Das

Calcutta’s pets will soon head the Tinkerbell way. After all, if Paris Hilton’s pampered pooch can take a break from a hectic celeb schedule to get into the grooming grind, so can Calcutta’s cats and dogs. With the opening of Paws, a pet salon and shop, that is.

Paws, a joint venture of Agnish Ghose and Castle Group, is located at 29/1A Ballygunge Circular Road near Tajaa’s. It takes up all of 150 sq ft, but then most good things do come in small packages. The red and canary yellow shop covers two levels — the ground houses the pet shop and the mezzanine floor is reserved for vet visits and a grooming section.

Berry Delight Shampoo, Oatmeal Shampoo with creamy buttermilk fragrance, Puppy Shampoo with gentle jasmine, Protein Lanolin Tearless Conditioning Shampoo, Frontline Spot On to tackle ticks and fleas, Oral Hygiene Kit, Puppy House Breathing Pads… The list goes and on and on...

Other pet paraphernalia includes pregnancy test kits for dogs and cats, lint rollers, muzzles, collars, straps, chewies, toys, feeding bowls, Pedigree range of food, poop scoops, scrubbers, deos, sink-in beds, carriers and strawberry-shaped kitty tents.

The grooming section offers an extended list of services like shampoo, ear cleaning, hair cutting, nail clipping and overall grooming. Rates range from Rs 30 to Rs 900. There’s a shearing session for your Lhasa Apso or a shampoo for your spaniel or…

Paws also offers trainers certified by the Kennel Club of India for your pampered puppies and creche services with pick-up and drop. “Our pet care centre is at Thakurpukur and we have various packages — daily to monthly. We also have a stud farm where we will import puppies for sale,” said Agnish. Dr Aparajita Chakraborty will be attending to pets every evening at the Ballygunge address.

Paws will offer state-of-the-art micro-chipping facility that will scan your dog for details like birth, de-worming and vaccination. It will also host a series of interactive programmes.

“We want to help potential pet-owners. A software will guide them on which breed to buy according to their environment and space constraints. Nutrition charts will be provided and consultancy sessions too,” said a spokesperson for Castle Group.

Annual membership fees at Paws is Rs 800, that includes two free shampoos and two vet check-ups every year and a 5 per cent discount on all products. Paws even offers free home delivery of goods within four-km radius for billing above Rs 500.

It’s time to say “woof” or “meow”!