A visitor pets therapy dog Angel at the Fur Ball Story dog cafe in Gurgaon, northern state of Haryana. — AFP pic
“We bonded so well from day one, which is very rare... I don't bond that easily with anyone,” Sundar, a 53-year-old who treats diabetes patients, told AFP of the pup her daughter named Meenakshi after a Hindu warrior goddess. As case numbers grew and more people were stuck at home, early fears about pets being potential carriers turned into a search for love and friendship from the four-legged creatures.
But while a growing middle class is becoming open to having dogs as pets, many still prefer pedigrees, which are more of a status symbol. “A pet just helps a lot because they're supposed to be providing unconditional love,” Katiyar said, adding that the number of calls for his services has jumped from one per day to seven in recent months.