People who came for evening walk or to shop at Central Mall on a recent Sunday were in for an unusual sight of a furry pack in a variety of looks and sizes being groomed, taking rest or simply enjoying the attention.
Newtown Business Club had organised a Pet Fiesta for the first time after the Covid-19 outbreak, and dogs and dog owners trooped out of cars that converged at the New Town Clock Tower ground.
“We were a little worried initially about adequate participation of dogs, but ever since we posted about the event on social media, our phones have not stopped ringing. We were overwhelmed to see this kind of reaction. The specialty rounds drew more entries than we expected, “ said Luna Chatterjee, the joint curator and host of Pet Fiesta.
The show had its fair share of fashionable, cute and naughty dogs. One Lhasa Apso named Pixie, which looked like a canine diva in a red polka-dotted dress, refused to walk on the ramp and the pet owner, Babli Guha had to carry her along in her arms. “Our Pixie is very cute, naughty and a little moody as well. She is just like my second daughter. This was her first show, and we hadn't trained her for this. She will do better in the next one,” Guha, a resident of Sukhobrishti, said. “She loves to dress up, so I always try different hair ties on her. We also like to color coordinate our outfits.”
Shubham Dave, the youngest owner, with Snowy; Babli Guha with her Lhasa Apso Pixie; visitors pose with Putiram
The participants were not only stylish and well-dressed but photogenic too. A two-year old Beagle, named Putiram, was ready to pose and just couldn't get enough of the public attention. His owner Sumita Basu said: “Putiram not only loves the camera but he also enjoys attention and petting. He's a very happy-go-lucky kid.”
There was also a very friendly Alaskan malamute named Rustam, who was getting lots of adoring looks and cuddles from visitors. His owner Rahul Chaudhury, from Short Faced Wolves Kennel, said: “These dogs are hard to maintain in humid climates. The humidity in Calcutta is hard to deal with but we keep them in air-conditioned spaces and groom them at least twice a week. Rustom likes brushing and petting. That is his favourite pastime. We don't do any professional training. I have two more cold-weather dogs, another Alaskan Malamute and a Siberian Husky, I give them basic training at home. All my kids are very friendly and that's what I really like about them.”
Rustam, the Alaskan Malamute, getting petted at the show. According to his owner Rahul Chaudhury, he lives in an AC room
A mother-daughter duo was petting Rustam but the child seemed hesitant. Jessica Sahay, the mother of Kyara, said: “I love dogs, but my daughter is a little scared of them. I brought her here to get over that fear. We had a good time here. It is a good opportunity for dog lovers who don't have dogs to come and spend time with dogs.”
“This is Snowy's first show and we would like him to participate in such events in future as well,” Shubham Dave, the youngest pet owner at the show, said of his five-month-old pet. The Class VI student of Orchids International School has divided his daily routine in such a way that he gets to spend four to five hours with Snowy. “I pet him before going to school, right after coming back from school and at night. We have a trainer to help me out at times,” he added.
Himadri Bora, a pet lover who clicked countless selfies with the dogs, said: “My dog passed away a few years ago. I am here only for the purpose of spending time with dogs.”
“Anna previously participated in a show but we reached a little late so couldn't win. However, she got lots of love and petting. Today she's participating in the grooming and ramp walk,” her owner Chandrayee Chakravarthy said.
“Anna is three years old. She loves to dress up and go out. I also enjoy buying clothes for her and sometimes I customise human baby clothes to dress her up. She also loves to eat so we have to control her portions. She's always very friendly and sweet. I wish I could know her language to understand her better.”
Surajit Chakraborty, one of the organisers who participated with his one-year-old golden retriever Facebook, said: “This is my debut as a dog owner in a show. Facebook loves chewing toys and walking. He had a great time walking with me and spending so much time here. I also got an overwhelming response from other participants. We can't wait for next year's show.”
The Pet Fiesta was an initiative by Newtown Business Club and supported by NKDA.
This is the third edition of the pet fiesta and the first one after Covid-19. The event was inaugurated by Debashis Sen, managing director of Hidco and chairman, NKDA, and Arjun Kaggallu, general manager of Novotel Hotel and Residences Kolkata.
Later on, the star cast of Pariah, including lead actor Vikram Chatterjee, arrived for the promotion and music launch of their upcoming film. Vikram also walked the ramp with dogs and interacted with the dog owners.
