Owning a pet is a sacred
responsibility that requires unwavering commitment and care. It means providing
them with everything they need to thrive physically, emotionally, and mentally.
Pets are more than just animals. They become cherished family members who fill
one’s hearts with unwavering loyalty, companionship, and comfort. Studies have
shown that pets can improve our mental and emotional well-being, reducing
stress, anxiety, and depression. National Pet Day is a moment to recognize and
appreciate the profound impact that pets have on our lives, bringing us
immeasurable love, joy, and happiness.
One of the best
veterinary doctors in Goa, Dr Gustavo Pinto, has served pets for 42 years and
is still serving them with the same love and compassion. “Now besides, cats and
dogs, I know people who have birds, rabbits and hedgehogs as pets. They are
also horses as pets in Parra and Quepem. Over the years, there is more
awareness among pet owners and even there is a lot of training for animal
lovers,” says Dr Gustavo, who has three horses, Electra, Gazi and Dazzle at his
home in Candolim.
Noted veterinary officer, Dr Gayatridas
Gauthankar from Bicholim has noticed that pet owners are more aware of the
needs of their furry friends. “As the number of pet owners have increased over
the years, the awareness of vaccinations has also been considerably increased.
Apart from cats and dogs, people are keeping different species of fishes and
birds as pets. There are some species of snakes observed which legally can be
kept as pets. However, this trend is mostly seen in urban areas. People have
become aware of their requirements such as deworming, nutrition, vaccinations, etc
unlike before. It is important to note that cats and dogs should get their
vaccinations, which include multi viral and anti-rabies every year. Majority of
the pet owners aren’t aware of multi anti-viral dose that has to be
administered. It is also mandatory to administer anti rabies dose for cats,”
explains Dr Gayatridas.
Goan illustrator, Fabian Gonsalves from
Calangute, can find inspiration in all things. And his two girls, Zoe n Rabbit,
give him loads of material to work with. “They are both strong street smart
survivors. They were rescued from the streets and are lovable, well trained,
playful, amazing guard dogs with very less maintenance,” says Fabian, about his
Indie breed pets. “We go for walks from 5.30 am till 7 am, for breakfast, they
share half of what I eat. If I’m not home, they wait for me at the gate. For
evening walks they play while I workout. They need full day care,” he
adds.
Fabian will be participating in the 36Days
of Type challenge on Instagram through his handle @fabskribbler where he will
be rendering Zoe and Rabbit as alphabets and will be posting one image per day.
“36days of Type is basically a 36 day challenge to create visuals based on the
English alphabet and numbers. There can be varied styles and so I have
illustrated each alphabet like how my dogs pose,” explains Fabian.
Cornelia Sequeira, an art teacher at St
Theresa High School in Candolim also uses her mixed breed dog, Joujou as a muse
when she works on her artwork. “Joujou means toy in French and my seven year
old furry friend is just like a family member. She is very playful and likes
the proximity. She is a real stress buster and she loves to play catch even
with our guests. She wants to be a part of the conversation and will bring her
toys to give them so they can play with her,” says Cornelia, from Mapusa who
has worked on an edition of Inktober with Joujou as her muse.
Artist Vaishnavi Kamat Shankhwalkar
adopted Punna and Krish as puppies and now cannot think of a day without their
company. The family also takes turns to go on vacation so that the two pets are
not left alone. “Punna is a great communicator. She sits in the hallway between
the kitchen and the living room and immediately kisses Krish on the nose to
indicate that the food is ready. They love spacious and calm environments and
anxious to go for their morning and evening walks. I love drawing and painting
them and they are always giving me company when I sit with the canvas,”
says Vaishnavi.
Chaitanya Malkarnekar has been in the pet
industry for over 13 years in Goa and feels that the pet owners are more
educated about pets and their requirements. “The trend is shifting towards more
pet related products. Pet owners spend a lot of money on good products and
there are various types of food also that is available in stores now. The
industry has drastically changed and even the medical benefits have changed.
Now, there are super specialist in orthopaedics, ophthalmology and nephrology
for pets in Goa. There are also specialised skin and blood tests done here. These
facilities were not available ten years back,” concludes Chaitanya.
