Tails, whiskers, paws and more: A day out for pets and their humans

The Pawtner Carnival, curated in association with Calcutta Times, made its pawsome debut in the city on Sunday, drawing more than 1,200 visitors and over 250 registered paw babies. A playdate, pampering session, and party – all rolled into one was curated by Nandini and Ronit Mitra. Apart from the pet parents and fur babies, the carnival also brought together dog trainers, veterinarians, groomers, walkers, and pet-care experts. Fun, fur and fashionOn one hand, paw babies confidently strutted down the ramp alongside their proud parents, dolled up in elaborate, cute outfits, and on the other, were the activity zones, which buzzing with excitement as the fur babies leapt through hoops, tackled hurdles, followed scent trails in the Sniffari Treasure Hunt, and got their caricatures drawn. “As his name suggests, Happy was super excited to participate in the fashion show,” smiled Swati Agarwal, Happy the Beagle’s mother. Rahul, who brought his Rottweilers Neo and Luka, said, “Neo is extremely friendly, but people’s perception of this breed is often unfair. Events like this help break those myths.” he said. A pawsome ambienceFrom Jerry, Choco, Laddoo, Cookie to Bruno, breeds such as Shih Tzus, Golden retrievers, Huskies, Spitz, Lhasa apsos, Rottweilers were strutting around dressed in everything from dainty outfits to ethnic wear. The atmosphere encouraged easy bonding. “It’s such a lovely sight to see so many babies come together and socialise. They don’t get this chance often,” said pet parent Subhankar Pal.Pampering rules the dayThe grooming sessions drew eager pet parents throughout the day. Pratham Jaiswal from a city-based pet grooming team said, “Grooming is an essential part of a pet’s hygiene and overall health, it’s not just about appearance.” Rajen Chauhan from the team added, “Unlike humans, pets don’t need daily baths. What they need is regular brushing and timely professional grooming to stay healthy and comfortable.”