14 December,2017 09:51 AM IST | Mumbai | Snigdha hasan
A carnival for pets and animal lovers makes its debut in the city with two days of activities for a ball of a time
A dog that can't get enough of scuttling through a tunnel. Or one that buries itself in a ball pool. A cat that chews away a toy to glory. Or just lolls about in the grass. If this is your idea of a fun weekend, head to BKC for Pet Fed, a two-day festival for pets and animal lovers.
A scene from a skit, where a security dog helps nab a chain snatcher
Coming to Mumbai for the first time after editions in Delhi and Kolkata, the festival will be spread over three acres, with 20,000 humans and around 3,000 pets expected. "There's an event for every liking of human beings in India. Music, fashion, art, food; you name it. But if you love animals, there isn't much on offer," says Akshay Gupta, founder of Pet Fed, adding that the idea is to let pets and pet lovers have a great time in each other's company, Apart from talent and fashion shows, activities, workshops and stalls, the festival includes a security dog show featuring dogs from facilities that train them for the armed forces. A skit showing a security dog help nab a chain snatcher is also part of the show. Another interesting highlight is a good dog citizen programme, meant especially for pet owners, where they can learn how to train their dog to be an ideal citizen in public.
"At the entrance, all dogs will be given a red, blue or green tag based on their temperament, and volunteers who have trained with us in animal behaviour will be present throughout," informs Gupta, adding that vets would be available at the venue, along with an ambulance on stand-by. It's not just for canine lovers. The festival has a dedicated cat zone with an array of toys and arrangements to ensure that pet parents don't have to worry about their little one escaping or getting lost. The organisers have tied up with various city NGOs to put up an adoption camp for dogs and cats. To promote adoption, celebs including Dino Morea, who owns an Indian breed dog will be part of the fest too. "Many people discriminate between foreign and Indian breeds, the idea is to change the mindset," Gupta sums up.
On : December 16 and 17, 11 am to 9 pm
At : MMRDA Grounds, BKC.
Log on to : petfed.org for tickets
Entry : Rs.299 (one-day pass)
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