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Sunil Shetty: Those who don’t have pets don’t know what they are missing!

On World Animal Day I would like to tell people that if you destroy the habitat for animals and plants then very soon there won't be any life left on earth.

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Today is World Animal Day but for the animals lovers out there they love, celebrate and take care of animals and pets every day. For some it's even a constant struggle to make sure that the animal world out there remain safe and protected. Sunil Shetty tells us why he adores his pets and what's important for them in today's lives.

I am obsessed with animals and have been since the day I was born. I am Leo – a born lion and have grown up with dogs, roosters and geese on my Mangalore farm as a child. And my pets are my life. I have bird homes and all kinds of bird feeders in my Panvel farmhouse. I am involved with Project Discovery where the concept is to build a bird sanctuary with trees planted in such a way that different birds come and rest on different trees. It's a lifestyle project for 21 villas where I want to give people the feel of a forest home.

I have five dogs at home (three Great Danes Troy, Tom, Duke, a Pug Chelsea and my brat a Husky called Brody. I lost three of my dogs (a Great dane, Dobermann and French Mastiff) last year because of age... It's very painful to lose your pets who are like your family. Everyone in my family – from Mana to Athiya and Ahan adore our pets. We all talk to our pets. Brody tells me everything – from complaining to me to wanting to go down for walk and playing with him.

On World Animal Day I would like to tell people that if you destroy the habitat for animals and plants then very soon there won't be any life left on earth. They can't take the heat and if you don't provide them with water then how will they survive? A lot of people think I am crazy because I love all animal life so much that I have cultivated a butterfly farm in my garden in Panvel. I have planted trees and plants where they come to nest. My forest is a complete plantation with the help of horticulturists. You have to see to believing the kind of butterflies that are there inmy backyard! Our forest minister is Sudhir Mungantiwar also loves trees and plants. I feel this whole animal thing will work if we plant trees. We should take it up as a community service. The cycle of life begins with water, plants and then birds, animals and human.

On World Animal Day I would like to tell people don't destroy the habitat of the animals. We get into the cheetahs and leopards homes in thye forests destroying the environment and making the smaller animals run away. How would we feel if they destroyed our homes and we would go hungry? We loot, kill and destroy when we are hungry. We are always cutting down mangroves to make houses killing the birds and reptile life there. Oxygen and water are as natural for them as they are to us. We say Kashmir is beautiful and clean with pure air but when we destroy forests it's like taking away their Kashmir!

I would like to thank my pets for giving us so much joy and putting life into our lives and not just days into our lives. Brody wakes me up in 6 am and goes to to sleep between Mana and me. Those who don't have pets or are not animal-obsessed don't know what they are missing! Let's make everything pet-friendly soon.

The day I hang my boots up it will be for nature. Right now whatever difference I can do for the habitat I am doing - like getting the trees and birds. If you come to my Mumbai office you will see so many plants and trees. That's because I take care of them. Even Ahaan today breeds koi fish in our farm and has about 400 of them. He has created a waterbody for them and takes out time every weekend to see his koi fish. Every animals, bird or plants on our farm is purely for love - nobody is allowed to touch them. Athiya calls our farm Old Macdonalds farm.

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