CHENNAI: There was a lot of cute and energetic woofing and yelping at the recently held ‘Pet Pawty’ by Provoke lifestyle magazine. Amid the bunch of enthusiastic pet owners at the party, City Express caught up with Apsara Reddy, editor of the lifestyle magazine. ‘Bane! Bane! Come here’ she called out to her dark and dashing pet — a Rottweiler. Known for breaking gender barriers and for being exceptionally media-savvy, Apsara’s love for pet is well known too.
The multi-faceted persona says, “Animals and pets are a blessing and they need to be treated properly. I am blessed with seven dogs.”
Panther, another Rottweiler is her protector, she shares. “Panther is like my protector and all my dogs are like a family. Though I don’t get to spend much time with them amid a busy schedule, I make sure to cuddle them, go for long walks in the beach and indulge in fun activities whenever I get time,” she says. Muffin (saint Bernard), Sumo (Pekingese), Brando (Pug), Tiara (Lab) and a Shih Tzu are the other pets Apsara owns.
Her relationship with animals started at a very young age. Recollecting her first pet which was a fluffy white Pomeranian, she reminisces, “I think I’ve always been a pet person. My parents got me my first pet when I was two. I used to play with them and my relationship with animals has been very beautiful.”
Having pets and being connected to them is karmic, she says. “It’s a very soulful and karmic connection. Pets understand when you are low and dogs are the most loyal best friends one could ask for,” she explains. And we heartily agree!
So, what does she think about the current scenario of pet-human interaction? “It is seeing a positive change, but it needs to grow more. Pets should be seen as therapy and must be loved. It’s not about tying them up and giving them three meals a day…that doesn’t add up to taking care of a pet,” she points out.
In the US, the UK, and European countries, dogs are used to treat PTSD among women and children of abuse, and soldiers returning from war, as support for people with disabilities, and even for holistic healing and care of patients in hospitals.
Talking about pet care, she says, “People who own foreign breeds should keep in mind that those pets aren’t show pieces. Their environment should be made adaptable, their skin and feeding habits should also been taken care of. Also, buying pets is a lifelong commitment and one should think before deciding to buy or adopt a pet as they should never abandon the pets afterwards.”
Apsara endorsed the initiative ‘magic collars’ to prevent accidents involving animals. “I read that 600 dogs are killed or run over every day in Tamil Nadu,” she avers.
More paw love in the future then? “Well, my hands are full with a lot of paws now. But, I wouldn’t say no if someone gifts me a pet,” she quips.