Against All Odds: How scarred, scared cats and dogs live without fear at this unique Pune animal farm

There are 80 such dogs and 18 cats residing, recovering and being rehabilitated back to life at Sunil’s Pet Home, a shelter for cats and dogs. (Express Photo By Pavan Khengre,19.10.24,Pune.)

There are 80 such dogs and 18 cats residing, recovering and being rehabilitated back to life at Sunil’s Pet Home, a shelter for cats and dogs. Sunil Tirlotkar, 46, looks after the rescued strays and provides them two meals a day and weekly bath at Rs 200 per day, paid by those who choose to sponsor the pet. Tirlotkar says, “Most of them are rescued dogs and cats that animal lovers find in an unsafe situation in their societies and hence drop them here for safety and care”. Pointing to the black marks on the body of a dog named Buddy, Tirlotkar says, “Buddy was in Lucknow at the receiving end of an acid attack. Someone who had been there for a work trip saw the troubled dog and sent him here via plane.” Some cats also ended up at the shelter during lockdown owing to work-from-home worries of their owners.

Tirlotkar has been working and engaging with animals for their better life since he was 16. (Express Photo By Pavan Khengre,19.10.24,Pune.)

While Tirlotkar only takes in pets that owners are willing to sponsor, he says, “A lot of times, people bring pets here and assure me that they will pay for the pet every month, but they disappear after the first few payments. In such cases, I rely on some other sponsors to sustain the place.”

With so many pets and their different ailments, Tirlotkar’s job becomes challenging to provide everyone with their medicines on time. But to do it well, he has made the premises his home too and carries all the duties with the help of his wife and three employees. “All the dogs deserve special individual care. Some are hesitant to take medicine, so we spend time with them and understand. Some like to take their medicines with dog food and some better take it with meat. We accordingly ensure that they are getting their doses,” he said. He says he applies the same strategy with their meals. “Whenever we have a new pet coming in, we give them a lot of time and attention. We sit and spend time with them, to understand their needs better. Just like for humans, it helps to have a safe, clean and supportive space for their speedy recovery,” says Tirlotkar.

With so many pets and their different ailments, Tirlotkar’s job becomes challenging to provide everyone with their medicines on time. (Express Photo By Pavan Khengre,19.10.24,Pune.)

It feels true after looking at a cat in the home, whose face bore a perpetual expression of fear. She moved cautiously, occupying as little space as possible, as though to hide from the people around her. Tirlotkar said, “Someone had hit her and she has been scared ever since. When she was new here, she used to be fixated in one corner and wouldn’t move from there. However, as time passed, she felt okay to move around a little and to sit on the cooler now”. Another dog at the home was brought in with a brain tumour condition. “Doctors had warned me that he wouldn’t survive even for three months. But he has been around here for eight months now,” says Tirlotkar.

A rescued cat in Tirlotkar’s home. (Express Photo By Pavan Khengre,19.10.24,Pune.)

Although this facility was started in 2018, Tirlotkar has been working and engaging with animals for their better life since he was 16. He remembers seeing his parents and grandparents looking after stray animals and that influenced him. Tirlotkar dropped out of school after Class 10 and does not have any formal education in veterinary sciences either. But says he has learnt to care for dogs, understand their behaviours and become friends with them through practical experience. He does have visits from vets when needed.

Tirlotkar is working to set up special care treatment rooms, a swimming pool for dogs and a guest house for their owners at the facility. (Express Photo By Pavan Khengre,19.10.24,Pune.)

Tirlotkar is working to set up special care treatment rooms, a swimming pool for dogs and a guest house for their owners at the facility. There are dogs that have lost their legs in accidents, some that are blind, some that are paralysed, some that are old, and some that are infected with gangrene.

“All I try to do is provide them with a comfortable space with love, so their last days in this world are spent well,” says Tirlotkar. Though Tirlotkar’s aim is to increase the lifespan of all the pets under his care, he has set up a cremation facility for their funeral when it is time to bid farewell to them.