A blog for dog lovers and pet lovers of India l Friends of Lana Blog

With Novel Coronavirus or COVID-19 being dubbed a global pandemic by the WHO, there has been panic and misinformation all around. Pet parents have been wondering if their dogs and cats can be infected with (and transmit) COVID-19. 

As every pet parent would know, dogs are the heart and soul of every family – there’s no doubt about this. As with every member of the family, we must celebrate our most beloved member’s birthday too! While there’s no need to go overboard, there’s also every reason to indulge your doggo just a little bit more on her special day. (be it birthday or adoptaversary!) We’ve thought of some cute little ways to make sure your dog has the BEST birthday in this blog post.

A recent survey done by Lana Paws, Pet Dogs of India 2019, highlighted a significant observation. An overwhelming 95% of all the pet parents who took the survey felt the need for local authorities to run structured programmes to sensitise children towards being kind and compassionate towards animals. Cases of dog bites have been widely reported and, in some cases, even sensationalised by the media. Many of these cases have been directed at children. Public opinion regarding stray dogs is at an all-time low. As a result of this, some people (children in particular) panic upon the very sight of stray dogs.

As dog lovers and pet parents, we pay utmost attention to our furry pal’s every need – be it food, bedding, toys, treats, clothes, you name it. But there’s also something else that we should be addressing every day. Sometimes multiple times a day. Yep, you guessed it. We’re talking about dog poo. Our recent survey, Pet Dogs of India 2019, highlighted an astonishing fact – more than 60% of our respondents admitted to not picking up after their dog. Dog parents often believe numerous myths regarding their dog’s business, which might be a big reason behind this statistic. Let's flush some myths to start with... 

With our survey last year, Pet Parents Unleashed 2018, we wanted to cast a spotlight on the shifting trends in pet ownership. We highlighted a remarkable phase in the Indian pet industry wherein the rules of pet parenting in the country are being completely rewritten. In the same vein, our current survey has been designed to find out how capable, open and friendly Indian cities are to support this new dynamic people share with their pets.

Our survey metrics took into account a range of factors that are generally considered important for pet parenting - from access to good vets, parks, boarding & grooming facilities, to ease of renting houses as well as measuring other people's mindset towards pets/animals in general. Can you guess which Indian city was voted most pet-friendly?

Increasingly, there are many issues and ailments for which conventional veterinary medicine (or allopathy) may not provide all the answers. Especially as age becomes a factor in our pets’ lives, issues such as arthritis take over and we may not always readily know how to tackle something for which there may not be an adequate treatment in allopathy.

Enter alternative therapies, such as Bowen Therapy. In tandem with veterinary visits and conventional diagnoses, such alternate, miraculous therapies really shine.

And while there are a couple of hundred Bowen therapists for humans in the country, Ms Nisha Jaggi has the distinction of being the only Canine Bowen Therapist in all of India. Here, Nisha joins us for a chat as we get to pick her brain to understand Canine Bowen Therapy, which is at the core of her practice as a therapist, and additionally, a little bit about her work and experiences with animal reiki, energy healing, laser therapy and Bach flower remedies.

Holi is right around the corner, and most of us await the festival of joy and colour with glee. Faces will again be awash in every imaginable hue and the streets will be full of the kind of vibrancy that only Holi can bring. People come together and exchange the usual, decadent Holi delicacies with cheer.

It's no wonder then that many of us also want to include our pooches in the festivities. Our furballs of love are such an important part of our world and we love celebrating anything and everything with them!

However, in the heady exuberance of Holi, it's important we still remember the fact that the things that are safe for us may not always be safe for our animal companions.

The doorbell rings and the first person to zoom across the door to greet his guests is Mr Igor. He will scan every guest by rubbing himself against them. Few questions will be asked in the form of meows and purrs. The ones under suspicion are nibbled and left with a warning. Only after the security check is done, the person is allowed an entry. Every person who has visited our house would testify to this kind of scrutiny by our purr-master, Igor. Mind you, this is rather difficult for the faint-hearted or non-animal lovers!!

My cat Igor, better known as @igorkooka, turned 4 recently. In human years, he is as old as me now.

My husband and I have always been fond of pets. Originally from Mumbai, my husband and I moved to Goa for his new job. So, after a few months of marriage and the stress of settling down in a new city receded, we decided it was the right time to get ourselves a puppy. Apart from the unconditional love and heartwarming cuteness, we didn't have the slightest clue of what we're in for the long run.

Almost two years of being a ‘dog-ma’, in every possible way a kaleidoscope of emotions, thrills, hopes and dreams. She has taken me to the moon and back - several times - and continues to do so in her magical way every day.

Jimmy walked into my life with her four little salt and pepper paws a year earlier. I believe she was God sent. Maybe my Guardian Angels realized the trough I was facing in life then and to bolster me out of my own crevice and had sent this furball my way.