A pup to take home

It’s the first time that the People for Animals, which is putting up pups for adoption, have chosen a public place. So, the pups picked up from the streets were scrubbed clean and brought to the mall. The response was much better than what it would have been at a shelter.

The stall was crowded through the day, with people stopping to look at the pups, pet them and feed them. While some people asked what “breeds” were available and walked away when they were told all pups were of Indian pedigree, for many it wasn’t an issue. Fourteen-year-old Anya Mehra came with her mother and picked up a two-month-old black and white pup. “The pedigree of the dog doesn’t matter. At the end of the day, you want a dog for its love and loyalty,” says Mehra.

The puppy adoption corner was set up earlier for two days. While 16 pups were adopted on the first day, more than 10 were adopted by next evening. Looking at the success of the stall, the mall management has asked the organisation to put it up every Wednesday. All the pups adopted will get free lifetime rabies and tetanus inoculations by Dr Narendra Gandhi at his East of Kailash clinic. Mandakini Jha, a 24-year-old architect, has been looking to bring home a dog for a while and thinks this is the right opportunity. “I like that they are not charging people for these pups. The fact that vaccination is free for life seems like a bonus and I will adopt a pup from there soon,” she says.

With every pup, the owners get a “care booklet” that gives them a step-by-step advice on how to take care of a pup, from feeding and bathing to vaccination and toilet training. The stall is also open to anyone who has stray pups in their vicinity and wants to give them away for adoption.

For more details, contact 23357088/23355883