Surrounding yourself with the loving company of a pet and being r...
Read More
Surrounding yourself with the loving company of a pet and being responsible for their well-being is important, and so is splurging on them. Food, medical bills, grooming, training – pet care is a costly affair. Above everything else it is important to give them attention and Amdavadis are leaving no stones unturned in this regard.
Read Less
Surrounding yourself with the loving company of a pet and being responsible for their well-being is important, and so is splurging on them. Food, medical bills, grooming, training – pet care is a costly affair. Above everything else it is important to give them attention and Amdavadis are leaving no stones unturned in this regard.
Showering attention Chirag Bhatt has a Macaw called Laila. He says, “Laila loves talking to new people. If nobody gives her attention, she will scream and you can hear it from a kilometre”. Saral Patel, who got two Persian cats from a friend three weeks ago, agrees. “Cherry and Berry are attention seeking – they are happy if I play with them for a while, otherwise they keep hovering around me,” he says. They are also used to being in an air-conditioned room. “Barring three-four hours a day, the AC is on all the time, even if it means that I have to take a blanket to sleep,” he quips. The cats will also need a trainer when they grow up.
Seasonal requirements Chirag says that his Macaw eats only fruits and nuts and has to be taken out for a drive at least twice a week. “Her cage has a bulb that helps me regulate the temperature – if it gets cold, I have to switch the bulb on to make it warm. If it’s too humid, she has to be bathed twice a day,” he explains. Apart from food, her calcium supplements and minerals are also expensive so he spends about Rs 4000 every month. Pet store owner and dog lover Swati Rajput adds, “There are special sweaters, jackets, cool coats, rain coats and shoes available for pet dogs.”
Grooming tales Dog shows, dog fashion shows and fancy dress competitions are popular amongst pet-lovers. Priyanka Roy, the owner of a six year old Shih Tzu, Appie, takes him to the spa twice a month. “His coat needs regular grooming. At the spa they shampoo, condition, blow-dry and comb his coat. They also clean his nails and ear. Sometimes they tie a ribbon or a bow and after he is back from the spa he smells amazing for the entire week,” she says. Her dog is also very fond of toys. Overall, she ends up spending ` 6000 per month. Boarding expenses too have almost doubled. “When we are travelling, we board Appie at a place that charges around Rs 600 per day, including food,” says Priyanka.
Health care From excellent quality pet food to veterinary care, pet owners spend a lot of money to ensure their well-being. Nikhar Gandhi says his Rottweiler’s basic monthly expenditure is
Rs 15,000-20,000, including, food and medicines. “He does not require grooming or other such things but what he needs is to be taken out for a run twice a day for over an hour each time. He is powerful and has a good diet, so proper workout is essential to keep him away from weight gain and hind-limb issues,” he explains. Swati adds, “Apart from food and medicines/injections, owners spend on different flavored chew sticks, toys, bones, clothes etc. Some clients are particular about the brands they use and take all efforts to source it because at times no single store will have everything one needs.” From time to time if pets fall sick or have a problem like their fur not growing – the medical treatment bills shoot up.