Pet friends in an urban jungle
In a sense, pets are now a part of the family. These days, pet owners have become “pet parents”.
Pet owners across the world enjoy loving and rewarding relationships with their fellow companion more than ever before. Gone are the days of keeping a pet in the backyard and feeding it scraps from the table.
As our societies are becoming increasingly urban, with more and more people living in flats and apartments, people are looking for relationships that can thrive in limited living space. In a sense, pets are now a part of the family. These days, pet owners have become "pet parents."
Curious May
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On a sunny winter noon, Jon Kabir was sitting on the roof surfing through his phone. As the breeze started to pick up, he felt something moving beside his legs. Looking down, he saw a cute little dog with her round shimmering eyes, a cute little nose and a pink tongue – it was May, his companion for the last five years. "When it comes to May, I do not know where to start. She is the best gift I ever had in my life, one which completely changed my life," added the Indalo upfront with a smile with May solidifying his statement with a bark.
Delving deep into the conversation, Jon said, "When I stated that I was about to get a pet, the reaction from my parents were, 'either us or the dog.' The initial days were pretty had. But within four to five months, the scenario changed completely. She started sleeping in my parents' bed, in between my parents. It has been five years and till date every day, my mom feeds her with her own hand, before serving us lunch."
"When it comes to dogs, you have to guide them. I do not like to use the term 'train'. She has a mind of her own and she knows what is good for her. But she knows that I am always there to guide her when necessary," added the versatile singer.
Playful Patches
As the golden rays of the sun hit Patches, she looked up and let out a long howl. Standing behind the Spitz was Bashir Ali, her parent who was eagerly observing her every move. Sensing Bashir's presence nearby, Patches ran towards him ready to receive her first dose of hugs and kisses.
Picking her up in his arms, the gentleman in his mid-fifty's stated, "She had a small patch on her left eye when she was born. That's why we named her Patches. Ironically though, the patch disappeared with time, but the name stuck around."
"When it comes to parenting your pet, you have to understand that they are more than just flesh and blood. You have to take care of them as your own. To me they are my kids," added Bashir.
Awesome Alayla
As soon as Sarah Alam opened the door, out jumped an energetic Alayla through the open door circling Sarah. And why not! Mommy was home after all the days' hard work. Bending down, Sarah picked the retriever up in her arms and marched in. Some of you might think "God, the retriever might be heavy", but in the words of the radio jockey, "I look at her as my own child – she is my baby.
Alayla was the goddess of war in Greek mythology. I had a lot of names in mind – Clementine and Ruby – but finally I decided to settle for Alayla. A thing about dog is that they choose you and basically that is what she did. She was willing to listen to me. I was nearly down to tears. After bringing her home, she was a complete natural. It felt as if she had been here all along."
