A dog is a man’s best friend — dog owners especially swear by this saying, which is probably coined by one too. What sets apart a dog’s love from a human’s is unconditional love and loyalty, which cannot be denied by canine owners. This Friendship Day, why restrict the tag of a best friend only to other humans? Why not include your furry pal, too? We asked some celebrities why their dog/dogs is/are their best friend/s...
‘Dogs demand unconditional love, too’
Shreyas Talpade
More than being my best friends, my dogs — Don and Knight are like my sons. Both are Labradors aged seven, but Don is four months older. My wife got us Don when I was going through a bit of stressful time and he uplifted me. Later, we thought of getting Don a buddy as he was alone and a friend gifted us Knight. They both are more than a part of my family — all of my family, including my parents, in-laws, other relatives, people in my building love them too. I absolutely agree that a dog is a man’s best friend. They say dogs give you unconditional love but I would also like to add that they demand unconditional love from you too. Even if you’ve had a long stressful day, they come up to you and want to play with you. It’s de-stressing and joyful. Everybody should have a pet especially, if they have a child at home, as it make one more compassionate, it makes you more responsible. Kids eventually grow up and leave you later but your pets don’t leave you.
‘Dogs don’t have mood swings’
Jay Bhanushali
I have three dogs (and a cat) — Figo, Tim Tim and Katori. Katori is a two-year-old pug whom I adopted. Figo (male, age six) was gifted by good friend Ashwini Yardi. Tim Tim (female, age five) was gifted by another friend Narendra. Figo and Tim Tim are Shih Tzus and a couple. They are my best friends. I truly believe that dogs are a man’s best friend. They don’t have mood swings. Even when I return home at 3 am or 5 am after shooting for 12 to 14 hours a day, they come up to me and refresh my mood. It’s wonderful to be welcomed by these beautiful dogs when I get back home any time of the day. They do cute little things that touch my heart.
‘My dogs are my family’
Mika Singh
I’m an animal lover. I have various pets at my farm house in Gurgaon. I have several breeds of dogs and they are taken care of by people who are put up at the farmhouse. I love spending time with my dogs and they too are the happiest when they see me. The age old saying that dogs are a man’s best friends has been absolutely true in my case. For me, they are family. From understanding my mood to my conversation with them, my pets have become one of my closest friends. It’s unbelievable how they can sense every time I’m feeling low. I see the happiness in their eyes when they see me enter the farmhouse and the sadness each time I’m about to leave for Mumbai. That’s what I call truest friendship and unconditional love.
‘My Lhasa Apso is my baby’
Tanishaa Mukerji (Theatre and film actor)
The happy and positive impact a dog creates at home is really unbelievable. They are truly the most loving creatures I have ever come across. My five-year-old Lhasa Apso, King Leonidas is extremely possessive about me. He is my baby, always following me around and being there for me no matter what. For me, my dog is my best friend and will always be.
‘Justin shadows me everywhere’
Sohrab Ardeshir (Theatre actor)
I completely agree with the adage that a dog is a man’s best friend. My family has always kept dogs and I’ve been around them ever since I was born. I used to have three dogs but two have passed away. Currently, I have a six-year-old street dog named Justin. He shadows me which is lovely but becomes a problem when I’m travelling. I always get a very warm welcome when I return home, muddy paws all over me which I love! (laughs) I wish more people would adopt street dogs, as there are so many of them who need a home. Plus, they are so loving and faithful!
‘My Yorkie-Shih Tzu is a complete brat’
Zafar Karachiwala (Theatre actor)
Our seven-year-old Yorkie-Shih Tzu is called Monster and he’s a complete brat! He is my wife Ahlam’s dog and he took a liking to me from day one of our marriage. I’m the one who gives him his bath and takes him out for a walk every day. He likes to go for a walk in the mornings, so he usually wakes me up by licking my feet at 6 am. While he goes to Ahlam for comfort, I’m his buddy and we love hanging out together.
OPPOSITE OPINION
‘Best friend is a heavy term’
Nachiket Barve
I have a Labrador Retriever called Sir Theodore Goldenridge, and I fondly call him Theo. He will be turning nine this September. He’s the first dog in the family and Theo wasn’t gifted to me. I don’t think dogs should be gifted because they become family and it’s like gifting someone a spouse! I did a lot of research before getting a pet. I didn’t want to buy a dog from a pet shop where they’re kept in cages and sold. I got in touch with a family via Indian Kennel Club, whose dog gave birth to litter and I saw and adopted him. I wouldn’t say a dog is a man’s best friend because a ‘best friend’ is a heavy term. Dogs become family and it’s like having a small child in the family.
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