Our four dogs aren’t just pets to my mother and me –they’re our children,” says Sreenanda Shankar, who recently moved back to her Kolkata home with her dogs, Dodo and Diva, joining her mother, Tanusree’s pets, Tango and Teddy. “In ways I cannot put into words, they have always been there for me,” says Sreenanda talking about her pets, as her mother echoes the same: “I’ve experienced this before with six dogs, but feeling it again is just as magical, maybe even more.” To ring in Pet Day, we spent an afternoon with them to see their bonding firsthand.
And then there were four! It’s a relief that with every tail wag and cuddle, they got along so well
Tanusree Shankar
Familiar faces, instant comfort“Our home is filled with love and harmony,” – that’s how Tanusree describes life with Dodo, Diva, Tango and Teddy. “They fill every corner with love and affection. Having once lived with six dogs, the joy I feel is just as magical, maybe even more,” she says. For Sreenanda, the transition from Mumbai to Kolkata was seamless. Dodo and Diva already knew her mother, and their house staff, Laxman and Debu. Having grown up socialising, they blended in effortlessly, while Tango and Teddy – used to meeting her mother’s dance students –welcomed them easily. “They just sniffed each other and became friends,” Sreenanda says.
No matter how difficult the moment, they find a way to make me smile. Their love asks for nothing, expects nothing and yet gives everything. It is pure & unconditional
Sreenanda Shankar
From BOM to CCU via trainSreenanda recently moved to Kolkata from Mumbai with Dodo and Diva. She says, “The train journey was far more comfortable than I expected. A first-class ticket gave them the space and calm they needed, and travelling with two trusted members of our house staff helped them feel secure.” When they arrived in Kolkata, Sreenanda says there was no adjustment period – “it felt like they had always belonged. Having grown up around people and constant affection, they settled in effortlessly.”Meet the doggos:
- Tango (8) is a gentle Labrador who loves food, and everyone he meets, carrying lots of warmth
- Teddy (1) is a rescue Spitz who carries traces of a difficult past but is deeply loving, and is learning to trust
- Diva (6) is a Shih Tzu and the pack’s strong leader. She is affectionate and loves curling up on laps
- Dodo (4) is a loving Labrador who loves staying close & cuddles
Love your pets like family – talk to them, make them feel they belong. They return it with unwavering love that changes you
Tanusree
A dog mum’s guide to kindness for straysAs a dog mum, Tanusree says she’s learned that being kind to stray dogs begins with something very simple-respect and patience. “I never rush toward them or try to touch them immediately; instead, I let them come to me when they feel safe. I try to leave out fresh water and food whenever I can, especially in harsh weather and I speak to them gently so they recognize warmth, not fear.” She advises if a stray is hurt or unwell, it’s best to reach out to local rescuers or vets as they deserve care just as much as any pet at home. “Kindness is not just about feeding them – it’s about making them feel that they are not alone in this world,” she says.
In our home, there are no leashes, or chains, or sense of limitation. This is their space as much as it is ours. They are not separate, they are family
Sreenanda