Pawing Around

Love and affection, the two sentiments that keep us rooted during storms are redefined by our pawrfect friends as they wag their tails and lick our faces. When life turns rocky and rough, all we need is a paw on our palm and a furry friend by our side. You know what kills our joy though? The fact that we can’t take our pets everywhere as majority of the places restrict their entry. Are you miserable about your pets not accompanying you to your birthday dinner or a weekend brunch? Frown no more as we take you on an expedition to the most wonderful pet cafes in the country. There is a variety of pet friendly cafes and establishments now that do permit you to bring your pets along. And then there are pet cafes which specifically focus on your pet’s growth and nourishment through recreational activities, offering them a play-area along with specifically designed menus including a variety of healthy foods and snacks for pets. The wagging tails and slimy woofs can be an everyday scenario for you and your beloved pet as you venture on dates to these cafes.

Bengaluru houses the Therpup Café where every dog lover can have a therapeutic experience. “I thought of this concept when I wanted to take my pet out but I didn’t know where. There were pet friendly cafes but with a lot of restriction and I wanted my pet to be comfortable. I also have a lot of friends who visited me to play with my dog. Hence, I wanted to create a space where pets could roam around and have fun with their families and dog lovers alike. The whole concept of pet cafes in India was new when we opened up, it was purely out of love and affection!” Vinayak Chatturvedi, owner of Therpup Cafe, Bengaluru. Pet lovers are delighted with the growing rate of pet-friendly and pet-specific cafes, where pet owners get to pamper their pets and pet lovers get to visit the place to give those pawrfect little creatures bellyrubs and back scratches!

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“I have three dogs and they are my life. My husband and I both used to get very upset about not being able to take our babies along for dinners, but I see that has changed and for good. We can all have fun and spend time as a family that we are and walk over that no pet policy, making it a thing of past,” says a happy and glad dog mama Neha from Bengaluru.

Delhi’s first dog cafe and co-working space Puppychino focuses not only on providing best of treats and a separate playing area for the pets, but also facilities like grooming services like dog spas. They also host dog and cat adoption events. The warm and compact cafe turns into a doggo-hub on such days, having pet lovers from around the place hopping in, enjoying petting and cuddling with other dogs, interacting and ordering in for themselves as well as their adorable furry tails and boopy noses, taking away a surprise while they walk out happy! “We started this cafe in 2016 when I wished to take my dogs out but had nowhere to go. I empathised with other dog parents who felt the same. We didn’t think of it as a business opportunity but a source of showing our genuine love for dogs. Puppychino has been going strong for nearly 3 years now with absolutely no restrictions on dogs, they can wag around anywhere and everywhere. We bake dog cakes too for their birthdays.” Nayani, owner of Puppychinos, Delhi.

Cafe Pefe (Pets Emotions Food and Everything) in Mumbai is yet another junction to stop by to have your happy hour of the day with your pet. Now your pets can relish that yummy pasta and lip smacking pizza specifically made for them! And the best is yet to come, as 5% of your total bill contributes to the welfare and care of strays! Doesn’t that fill your heart with absolute joy? “It is amazing that I can take my Bruno (2 year old pug) there and treat him for being a good boy that he always is. Dogs are family and they should have a space of their own where they feel safe and happy. It is great that they are finally able to, you know!” says Rahul Nanda who along with Bruno is a frequent visitor of Cafe Pefe.

An outing once a while with your pet not only lets you spend quality time with them but also nourishes their mental being and health as they learn to socialise and interact with their kind. It’s a great time for pets and pet lovers to spend quality time in a warm and cosy atmosphere with all these pet cafes springing up. What’s in store for your furry friends this weekend?

From the February 2019 issue of FHM India.