City bids farewell to its four-legged marathon mascot of Marine Drive

MUMBAI: City lost a small but spirited icon on July 28, with the passing away of Shaggy, the beloved stray dog who lived outside the National Centre for Performing Arts (NCPA) and became an unofficial mascot of the Tata Mumbai Marathon (TMM). Known for trotting alongside participants and barking encouragement as they crossed Marine Drive, Shaggy was honoured posthumously by the marathon organizers — a tribute reflecting how deeply this street dog had embedded himself into the city's heart.A statement from the Tata Mumbai Marathon's official Instagram handle read, "Shaggy was a cherished part of our TMM family, always cheering runners with his wagging tail on race day. We'll miss his joyful spirit dearly."For 16 years, Shaggy made Marine Drive his home, becoming a familiar sight to joggers and residents alike. But he was more than just a fixture on the promenade — he was a guardian and companion to the 60–70 stray dogs that live along the seafront. His presence inspired the formation of A Pawfect Haven, a community-driven initiative founded and funded by South Mumbai residents Peppino Bahl, Viral D. Mehta, Aparna Asar, Bansi Kamodia, Kirti Makhijani, and several other animal lovers. The group pours their hearts into the welfare of the strays from Marine Drive to Cuff Parade and ensures that they receive regular meals twice a day, medical care, and even baths. Every stray in the area sports a special collar tag with an emergency contact number. "Over the years, people in the area have become extremely sensitised to the basic requirements of our dogs. The cops in the area are also very kind to our dogs," said lawyer Peppino Bahl. Residents say Shaggy had a way of bringing people together — whether it was through his cheerful sprints alongside marathoners or his watchful presence among his fellow strays. "Shaggy was a part of our group when we trained at Nariman Point. He used to run with us, sometimes all the way to Worli and back. We used to joke he was probably an athlete in his last life," recalled 65-year-old marathoner Sir Savio D'souza.On hearing of his passing, heartfelt tributes poured in from community members. "He lived a full life, loved by so many, and in his own way, he made the city kinder," said Viral Mehta, CCO of Dimexon Diamonds