Can everyone keep, and care for, a dog? Here's why your pet deserves better

Vrushali Lad is mom to two dogs, Noor, 7, and Masti, 5. PIC/SATEJ SHINDE

A dog is a man's best friend. As Zoya Akhtar suggests in Dil Dhadakne Do (2015), dogs observe, understand, and mirror human relationships. Today, that bond plays out on social media. With expressive eyes, loyalty, and endlessly "shareable" moments - from zoomies to sleepy cuddles - dogs fit perfectly into Instagram's idea of joy, turning pet parenthood into a curated aesthetic.

It's this aesthetic that often drives impulse decisions. Recently, content creator Srishti Garg adopted an injured rescue puppy from Jaipur and brought it to Mumbai. Within roughly 48 hours, however, she initiated the dog's return to the rescue network. In her statement on Instagram, she said, "I take full accountability for overestimating my readiness, and through this experience, I've come to understand my own limitations. I genuinely hope that what happened here can steer the conversation back to what truly matters, making sure every animal finds the loving, safe home they deserve."

Bringing a pet home is no easy business. There's real work to be done beyond just what looks beautiful on Instagram. When we're not ready to take up those responsibilities, an animal suffers. So what should you consider before you bring a pet home?

I wanted a dog even as a child," says 47-year-old Vrushali Lad. "But my parents were always against the idea. When I got married, my partner also was not in favour." Around seven years ago, after her divorce, she adopted her first dog. "I got her without thinking," says the Borivli resident.

When Noor came home, she had already been returned twice "because she has a problem of biting." Lad recalls, "She used to grab long skirts and kurtas at her eye level. But I understood it was a phase." The biting stopped once Noor got her adult teeth. "She became a dramatically different dog, the most well-behaved one."

Adjustments, however, were constant. "I couldn't leave her for more than an hour or two, and never after dark. I couldn't visit friends who were afraid of pets, and they wouldn't come over either," she says, "But it never once occurred to me that I should give this dog back."

If you love dogs but can't adopt them, feed your community dogs. REPRESENTATIONAL PIC/ISTOCK

To keep Noor company, Lad brought home Masti, who takes after his name. "He's as playful as they come," says Lad. But raising him was no picnic. "Masti came with a lot of baggage. He came at one and a half months, and I made a big mistake by getting him then. Noor has issues like resource guarding, and Masti picked that up from her. It was very challenging. He had extreme aggression and even injured me many times; I had to get stitches. The first two years, which should have been joyful, were very traumatic," Lad says, "I began to wonder if I wasn't providing the environment he needed. He's a very playful, Border Collie-type dog, but in the city, you can't give that kind of outlet. Trainers said he needed far more exercise. I even considered rehoming him, but the thought of it would make me cry."

Expenses too are significant. "In a ballpark, you could spend Rs 15,000 on one dog. The biggest expense is food. I give them meat every single day. Training can cost Rs 25,000-Rs 30,000 a month, and board-and-train programmes can go up to Rs 55,000. Vet visits can also cost a lot of money." Her advice is simple: "People should not get pets for the sake of it. Your life will change in ways you may not be prepared for. If your lifestyle does not allow it, don't do it - or you will resent the dog or give it away."

Priya Agrawal, Chinthana Gopinath and Pradnya Hattiangadi

Canine behaviourist Pradnya Hattiangadi explains what a dog goes through when it is abandoned. "I've worked with many dogs that have been found tethered outside vet clinics, grooming places, or kennels, where someone thinks that if they can't take care of the dog, someone else will figure it out. It looks like they mean well, but for the dog, it's very different," she says, "It's an unexplainable sense of change for them. For a dog, a leash usually means a walk or going somewhere safe. Suddenly, if you tether and leave them, they feel lost. They see someone they trust leave, and there's no way to explain that you're not coming back. It's shocking for them to be in a new environment, and it's traumatic regardless."

Loving dogs comes naturally to many, but that doesn't always mean bringing one home. Hair stylist Annkur, who runs Glam Nails in Bandra, says, "I'm just always happier around dogs." Having grown up playing with strays, he even welcomes clients who bring pets to his salon though, he laughs, "the session will take longer because I'll be busy playing with the dog." Adopting, however, isn't always feasible.

"Because of my work, I keep travelling and now I happen to live with my mother who is quite elderly and she does not like dogs," he says. Instead, he finds other ways to care. "You may not find water in my car, but you'll always find dog food," he says, adding that he feeds community dogs and keeps water bowls outside his house. His advice is simple: "Don't treat pets like a trophy. If you bring them home, treat them like family because they deserve that."

NGOs speak

Freagles of India, a not-for-profit trust, rescue beagles used in research labs, backyard breeders, and those abandoned on the streets in dire conditions. Founder Chinthana Gopinath says, "Unfortunately, people research cars or phones more than they research what it takes to care for a living being. They buy breeds without understanding their nature. For example, beagles are working dogs with high energy. If their energy is not channelled through proper exercise and training, they become destructive or develop behavioural issues."

The pandemic worsened the issue. "A lot of people bought puppies during the pandemic… once the lockdown lifted, people… realised they did not have the time to care for these dogs." Youth Organisation in Defence of Animals, better known as YODA, rescues abandoned dogs from the streets. Founder Priya Agrawal Hebbar tells us, "In a month, we find about 25 to 45 abandoned pedigree dogs. These are dogs for which we were called. The number of dogs which are abandoned without informing an organisation is at least 5-7 times higher."

How can you befriend your pet?

Pradnya Hattiangadi, canine behaviourist

If you're struggling with your pet, Hattiangadi says, "If you're the primary caregiver, build a support system. Find a kennel or pet sitter. Outsource what you can." If nothing works and giving up your pet becomes unavoidable, treat it as a last resort. "Get in touch with reliable NGOs or rescuers… be completely honest about behavioural or medical issues." Once you have found a new home for your pet, "the transition should be gradual. Over a month, you can introduce the dog to the new home so they feel safe."

Things to keep in mind before getting a pet

1Adopt don't shop
2 Know which breed works for you
3 Don't pick a dog based on looks, but lifestyle
4 See if a pet fits within your schedule
5 Remember it needs regular exercise
6 Make sure you're ready for the expenses
7 Check your plans for the next 15 years of your life

What can you do if you can't adopt a pet?

1 Feed community animals around you
2 Pet-sit for your friends who have pets
3 Foster a rescue animal
4 Volunteer at animal shelters

25-30
No of dogs YODA rescues every month in the city

6 crores
No of homeless cats and dogs in India

Rs 15,000
Average expense for one dog

60%
Dogs are homeless in India