A pet show was hosted at CK-CL Park recently and over 50 dogs of various breeds had come over. This was the 16th, 17th, and 18th show by Bidhannagar New Town Rajarhat Dog Lovers’ Association.
“We try and hold this show at the onset of winter, before the Kennel Club of India shows. The idea is to give the dogs a dry run before the pointed dogs,” said secretary of the association Subhankar Basu. “We also try to hold the shows at various grounds in Salt Lake and New Town so residents from all over can come and join us. It creates awareness.” The best in show prize went to Guddu Das’ Pomeranian. These are some more that won hearts —
If your first dog is named Judo, what would your second one be? “I had wanted to name him Karate. But what can I do if he only answers to Piku?” laughed Souratie Sengupta. Judo is their Golden Retreiver and Piku their Siberian Husky. “If not Karate, I had at least wanted to name him something with a Siberian or Russian connection. I tried Babushka — that is a kind of scarf worn there — but the name got radio silence from the puppy so I had to drop it.” Either way, Judo and Piku are thick as thieves, with Judo teaching Piku some mischief and the latter executing it.
Not only was the Siberian Husky Simba beautiful to look at but she also had a beautiful voice. “Huskies don’t bark; they howl and yowl and it sounds quite like singing,” smiled Atanu Kundu, who had come from Lake Town. Whenever he plays the harmonica, apparently, Simba provides the vocals. At the show, Simba got on his hind legs and started singing the moment she spotted her trainer, who she’s fond of. “Simba is our first dog and this is her first show. But going by how much she’s enjoying herself, we should become regulars,” said Kundu.
Ahana Das’s family has 20 dogs at their Barasat home but had come only with Flora, the Golden Retriever. “Flora is mischievous, especially when she sees water. The dogs go for weekly swims in the pond nearby and Flora races to dive in. She has to be dragged out later, after which she’ll play some ball and dive in again,” laughed the eighth grader. At the show, too, Flora was playful and full of spirits.
Devika Datta Roy, a fiveyear-old resident of CL Block, kept returning to make friends with Kaiser, the Great Dane from FD Block. “I’m surprised Kaiser is letting the child near him,” said his trainer Rakesh Biswas. “Back in FD children’s park, he chases off the kids! His father Genghis is more of a people’s person but Kaiser decides who he plays with.