monalisa patsani, post news network, Bhubaneswar, June 17: You are lonely; you love company, but are not the type to move around and socialise. What is the first thing that comes to your mind? Why not go for a pet? Well, since time immemorial men and women of all ages have had pets in their homes. Some may have had a pet, gifted to him or her, on some occasion, may be on the tenth birthday or so. Some may have had a pet at an advanced age when other members of the family had, for social or economic reasons, moved out. Pets, therefore, could be both your playmate and companion – someone either you had grown up with or had brought in your home to keep your company.
Anjali Mahapatra owns two dogs, lots of birds and also has a pair of guinea pigs. The dogs, says Anjali, are her mother’s companions. When she goes on tours or is away from her home for some days, her mother, who stays with her feels lonely. It’s she who got the dogs, Anjali says. “Some people purchase pets to have a companion in the house. Pets share our loneliness and make us believe that we are not alone. My mother is a pet lover. I often stay away from home and my mother, who stays with me has to stay all alone. So she first bought a Labrador and a year later she bought another. She often says her pets would never leave her alone,” Anjali said. Later on Anjali bought birds and guinea pigs.
The sale of pets in the city has increased by 15 to 20 per cent since last year, say people involved in the pet business. Apart from the oldest pet market close to the Master Canteen, many new pet corners have come up in the city in places like Chandrashekharpur, Bhomikhal, Khandagiri etc.
There are around 14 pet shops in the Ashoka Market and some of these have been doing a brisk business. All sorts of pet animals are available in the market – from dogs to guinea pigs. Lots of customers visit the market to get a glimpse of these animals and if they like any they buy it.
Abhijit Sahoo of Dog and Aqua Care, a pet shop in the Ashoka Market said, “Since last year there has been a 20 per cent increase in the sale of pet animals in the city. Having a small aquarium or a fish bowl has become a common phenomenon today”.
“People mostly love birds like sparrow, parrots, trained birds, etc. and the sale of these birds are very high, not only in the city but also in other parts of the state. Though labrador, German shepherd, pugs, bulldog, retriever, beagle, dalmatian etc. are some of the dog breeds, which are in high demand as they suit the climatic condition of the state, yet dog breeds, such as, affenpinscher, chihuahua, miniature pinscher, pomeranian etc. are also in demand. Guinea pigs are most popular among college students, who stay in hostels, as it is easier to look after those,” Sahoo said.
People, however, in spite of their interest in and love for pets are mostly not aware about the methods of their upkeep. “Though people have curiosity about pets yet many do not know about the kind of precautions one needs to take. We often tell our customers to go for proper vaccination, antibiotics, etc. for their pets and even to do de-worming from time to time,” Sahoo said.
Food for pets is another concern. Though quite a good number of shops are selling dog foods and accessories, but now people prefer service delivered to their doorsteps. Many pet lovers prefer to purchase pet foods from online stores, which often give products at discounted price.
“We take all sorts of precautions and give our pets good food. Now-a-days online services are there, so we often order pet food from online sites, where we get it for a cheaper price,” said Anjali.
Sunil Tripathy, a NALCO employee, who often visits the market to purchase dog medicines and food for his pet said, “I have a dalmatian which I bought two years ago. I always had an interest in pets, but never had one. Keeping a pet often helps us to relax our mind. Playing with them and taking care of them gives a kind of positive energy. I take special care and also avoid feeding them non-vegetarian food. I often give them medicines like Omega plus, growth conditioner syrup and other medicines and take them for regular checkups. It is easy to have a pet, but quite difficult to maintain them, as they need our time.”
Apart from the government veterinary clinics and dispensaries, many private clinics have come up in prominent places like Damana Square, Bhouma Nagar, Old Town, Sahid Nagar, Khandagiri, Chintamaniswar, Bermunda and other areas in the city. It has, therefore, become easier to get a good treatment for the pets.
Dr Maniram Jena, a veterinary doctor who has a chamber near Sahid Nagar said, “People often purchase a pet without knowing whether it will survive in the harsh climate of the state or not. The dog needs special attention like routine checkups and vaccination. Skin disease is very common among most pets, which is often caused due to worms; so de-worming is a must to prevent the disease. Many medicines are available for pets, which will help to keep those in good shape. Regular conditioning will help to keep their coat beautiful and glowing. Though dogs of hairy breeds look beautiful yet they need lots of care, such as regular trimming, and they need to be kept in a cool place.”
In the pet shops, the doctor pointed out, one finds guinea pigs and rabbits; but their life span decreases in the harsh climate. “The lifespan of a guinea pig is about two to three years, but here they die within seven-eight months, if proper care is not taken. It is better to keep them in a cool place and give them green pasture to roam,” he said.
