It's Scrappy the Cocker Spaniel's hour at the salon. He's just one of the 11 clients scheduled for the day at Urmila and Gauri's dog parlour, Tailwaggers.
The customer sits in the bathtub, as an attendant briskly shampoos and then conditions his hair. Covered with suds, it's hard to fathom whether he's enjoying the wash, but his brown eyes reveal a stoic acceptance of his situation.
It's Scrappy the Cocker Spaniel's hour at the salon. He's just one of the 11 clients scheduled for the day at Urmila and Gauri's dog parlour, Tailwaggers.
Besides washes and cuts, the salon offers detangling treatment, manicures, ear cleaning, and other such treatments. Depending on the breed of the dog and the services chosen, the bill can be anywhere between Rs750 and Rs1,500.
Mumbai has woken up to what many entrepreneurs the world over have realised: When it comes to their pets, especially dogs, owners are willing to roll over and do what it takes to keep their pet healthy and happy.
In the United States for instance, clubs like the Top Dog Country Club, provide facilities like heated swimming pools. Owners can go ahead and make their holiday plans without the usual pangs of guilt. In the UK, kennels are familiar with requests that border on the bizarre. One lady insisted that her Poodle's kennel be furnished with a leather sofa and a television set.
And while the city is yet to have its own — exclusive —doggy country club, there is a battalion of service providers for pets that caters to the needs of the pets and their owners.
Going to the vet for inoculations is just the beginning. There are pet stores (that stock up on food and doggie treats), trainers, dog walkers, beauty parlours, dog food caterers, party planners and psychiatrists. While on vacation, owners can enroll their pets into kennels and day-care facilities, many of which offer pick-up and drop services. The cost can vary from Rs150 to even Rs1,500 per day, depending on the breed, dietary needs etc.
"People are now keeping exotic breeds, many of whom are not inured to the city's humid weather. Such breeds require specialised maintenance and care; which we provide," says Urmila. So, besides German Shepherds and Golden Retrievers, Mumbai is also home to Chihuahuas, Poodles, Rottweilers, Pugs, and the occasional St Bernard.
Tanya Singh's desire to find the perfect pair of shoes for her one-and-a half-year-old Shih Tzu can no longer be viewed as a doting owner's eccentricity.
"I couldn't get shoes small enough to fit Raffles in the city, but I managed to find a pair in Singapore," she says. Besides his own toys and clothes, Raffles visits the parlour every week for a bath, hair wash, and sundry pampering. For Tanya, shelling out Rs650 is a necessity.
"Shih Tzus have four coats of hair that need to be well-maintained and kept tangle-free, and are susceptible to skin problems. His weekly visit to the dog salon ensures that he remains healthy."
Many of the dogs belong to double income families, and while their owners may not always have the time to take care of them personally, they have the means to ensure that their dog gets the best of what's available.
For instance, it's no longer a rarity to see vets organise doggy birthday parties - Raffles will be throwing one when he turns two on February 19. His vet will ensure that the guests are breeds that the Shih Tzu will get along with; those 'on heat' will not be invited.
It's not only owners of high-maintenance breeds who pamper their dogs. This writer would love to trade lives with businesswoman, Seema Khinchi's Labradors - ET and Forest. They get freshly cooked 'premium' meals delivered to them every day by Wasiff Khan's doggie catering service, Homecare Dog Food.
"Each meal costs about Rs140, but it's money well spent," says Seema, who also has a cat called Mo. "They are my children, and while Mo doesn't care to be pampered as much, ET and Forest love the extra attention." Both of them were abandoned and ill-treated by their previous owners, and were adopted by Seema. Today, they have a "nanny" who takes care of their grooming and physical activities.
Seema even enlisted a dog trainer for her pets. "I wanted the best, so I hired a trainer who had trained the Mumbai police's dog squad." Both Forest and ET are on a break, but will resume their schooling in March. Seema spends about Rs6,000 on each of her pets.
Even the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has jumped on to the bandwagon by planning to increase the annual dog license fee from Rs200 to Rs2,500.
And while pet owners are unhappy about this, their pets carry on as usual.
t_anjali@dnaindia.net
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