Name game 

Now this Great Dane had many a name. Visitors whispered “baagh” to one another when he entered the park. But his guardian Ankitt Gupta called him JD. Now JD too had two full forms. “One is my favourite drink, Jack Daniel’s, and another is Jagga Daaku because he’s quite a dacoit,” Ankitt shook his head, recounting the number of bed sheets, mattresses and furniture he has destroyed. “We give him 30cm bones to chew but even they don’t last more than a day!” 

I spy with my little eye 

Other dog-owners got asked what breed their dogs were. But Chiggy’s owners got asked if their dog had eyes! “A while back we actually had to lift the fur off her forehead and prove to a visitor that she has eyes,” laughed Jibak Sarkar, a resident of Phoolbagan. “Tibetan Terriers have special fur that shouldn’t be trimmed. It protects them from the cold in winter and even from the heat in summer,” added Jibak’s wife Payal. As for Chiggy’s curious name, they said it was inspired by the food delivery service Swiggy. “Swiggy brings food, Chiggy brings love.” 

Here’s looking at you, dino

A Rottweiler from Salt Lake’s BE Block sat put under the installation of a dinosaur at the park. The Rottie, named Azure — the Hotweiler, would not have got intimidated by the dino even if it was real, felt guardian Souvik Chakravarti. “He gets jumpy if tiny creatures like kittens get under his feet but has no fear of large animals.” The Rottweiler, by the way, has been nicknamed Hotweiler as he “likes to party,” said Souvik.

Hair-raising tale 

Seven-year-old Arohi Dawn had waist-long hair but her Lhasa Apso, nine-month-old Aishi, had floor-long hair! “So we share our hair clips,” smiled the first-grader, who also named her dog herself. “My mother does my hair but I don’t get to do Aishi’s hair. I have to settle with doing my doll’s hair as only my father can groom Aishi. It’s tough to untangle her knots,” she said as father Rajib Dawn laughed. 

Greek gods

Paula Basak, of Salt Lake’s DA Block walked in with two Greek gods. Not only were her two dogs handsome like the mythical lords, but they were, in fact, named after them too. Her Chihuahua was Perseus and black Great Dane Theodora. “Perseus is getting more requests for photos as many are scared of the mighty Theodora,” smiled Paula. “However it’s the little one who’s the alpha at home. He’s the boss.”

Rare beauty

This rare dog had everyone (wrongly) guessing its breed. “She’s an imported American Staffordshire Terrier,” said Rupam Das, who has named her Noorah, meaning “the most beautiful girl”. “Noorah resembles the American Pit Bull Terrier, a breed vicious enough to have been banned from several countries, but I call Noorah a nanny dog. I have a two-year-old baby at home who she guards with her life. She’s not just beautiful, she’s very loving too.” 

Organiser speak

This was the third show by Kankurgachi Dog Lovers in association with Ultadanga Sporting Club. “There are many animal lovers in our area and participation is rising every year,” said secretary, Kankurgachi Dog Lovers, Snehashis Saha. The best in show prize went to Pratap Kundu’s Doberman. 

Brinda Sarkar
Pictures by Shubham Paul