JOIN USCats, dogs enthral visitors at B'lore Pet Show
Suzy, a nine-year-old Norwegian forest cat and the only such feline in India, an exotic Amazonain Macaw and rare dog breeds were among the many attractions at the Bangalore Pet Show began on Saturday.
Animal-lovers got a glimpse of rare dog breeds like the Newfoundland, a dog that can weigh over 90 kgs and is a great swimmer, the Alaskan Malamute, a sled dog known for its strength and endurance and Kombai, a boar hound that finds its origin in a village called Kombai in Tamil Nadu, known for its hunting skills.
Mujeeb Rahman, a cat-lover, showcased his 32 Persian cats he has been rearing for the past 12 years.
Contrary to common belief that cats are aloof unlike dogs, Rahman’s cats are friendly. Rahman’s daughter, 10-year-old Maaisa and his cousin Muzammil, are his greatest support and feed and care for the cats. Among his pets are a Turkish Agora, Himalayan, Siberian and Exotic Persian cats which form an inseparable part of his life. Suzy, Rahman’s Norwegian pet already has five international titles to her credit.
Rare Indian breeds
While the show included some exotic breeds, the star attractions were the rare Indian dog breeds like Kanni, Chippiparai, Kombai and Rajapalayam which are from rural parts of Tamil Nadu and were primarily hunting dogs used by kings. They attracted a lot of visitors who saw them for the first time.
“Most dog shows showcase exotic breeds and expensive dogs and never display the local breeds. India, especially the south, has a rich history of Indian breeds that are powerful, fast and extremely loyal. Unfortunately, they are not even recognised as standardised breeds. We wanted to provide a platform for such breeds so that people can know about them and adopt them,” said Kishore Kumar, dog enthusiast and organising team member.
“I have seen most dog breeds but had never seen a Rajapalayam. It was wonderful to see this dog for the first time. I had read that they are very aggressive hunting dogs but I found them to be very friendly,” said Ravi Shetty, a 12-year-old visitor.
‘Cat conference’
The two-day event also includes an International Cat Conference and a Cat Show that will be held on Sunday and will witness the participation of hundreds of cats which will be judged on their basis of temperament, hygiene and health by cat experts from Malaysia,” said Saquib Pathan, president of Cat Fanciers’ Association of India.
“Birds are our best way to connect with nature. Like dogs and cats, birds also seek love and companionship and give unconditional love in return,” said Frank Rogers who is displaying his 300 exotic birds at the event.