The pet owners with their pugsHis friends took home return gifts. There was music to dance to, ice cream chips, sandwiches and sweets to eat, and presents all around. It was the perfect birthday party any one-year-old couldve hoped for. The food and music flowed, and everyone enjoyed themselves to the hilt. Pepper could well have been the happiest pug in the suburb on March 10.

Claire with her daughter and PepperPerry Road resident Claire Young obviously dotes on little Pepper, and pulled out all the stops to celebrate his first birthday. The black pug was scampering about the house, mingling with his other pug friends, obviously enjoying himself that evening. Did he know it was his birthday? Probably not. But that didnt stop Young from organising a lavish party, complete with party hats and music.

We celebrate our birthdays, so I thought why not, she laughs, when I ask her how she thought of celebrating Peppers birthday. Complete with ice cream, chips and chewy bones for her guests and their pugs, this birthday party had the works.

The dogs socialised a lot and everyone had a great time
Raina Biswas
Resident of Bandra

This is the first dog party I attended that
invited the dogs also.
Veronica Patrick
Resident of BandraThe invitees seemed equally excited. Sunita Matondkar, who brought her pug Loco to the party, got Pepper a shampoo, a photo frame and a greeting card. We meet them everyday at Carter Road when we walk our dogs there. I wanted to get him something. Its his birthday after all, she smiles.

The party, which began at 6 pm, was an occasion for dogs and owners alike to let their hair down. Raja Sabharwal, owner of 4-year-old Badshah, says, I know Claire because we walk our dogs at Carter Road everyday and I just wanted to let the dog enjoy himself. But all of us ended up having a really good time.

What do they think of the party idea? Raina Bi was, owner of one and a half year old Rusy, says its a really unique and fun thing to do. Ive never attended a birthday party for a dog, and I really had a great time, says the Mt Mary Road resident.

The party worked well and we all had a great time
Claire young
Owner of the pugRaina, who had a really great time, wouldnt mind doing the same for her pug when it is the time. I know Claire through the person who they got the dog from, and when she invited me for the party, I was pretty excited. Pugs also need to meet other dogs and socialise a bit, so this was good for them, she feels.

St Pauls Road resident Veronica Patrick, who was at the party with her pug, agrees. I have attended a dogs birthday party before, but only the owners were invited. Here, even the dogs had a good time, she says. Patrick got Pepper a soft toy and dog food. Dogs love soft toys, thats why I got that for him, she laughs.

Raina got Pepper some dog food and a chewy bone, like Sabharwal. Young herself thought the party was quite a success. The dogs enjoyed themselves, and Pepper had a fun first birthday party. I wanted to do something different, and it worked. Lets see about next year now, she concludes.

sowmya.rajaram@mid-day.com