Paw-sitive legacy: Bombay House-Tata Group’s age-old doors remain open for strays – Times of India

While Ratan Tata’s love for animals is well documented, it’s also no secret that the only residents who enter Bombay House – the century-old headquarters of the Tata Group in Mumbai – without an entry card stray dogs. When the century-old heritage building was renovated and reopened in July 2018, the 86-year-old chairman of Tata Trusts is said to have allocated a room for the welfare of street dogs in the area.
Apart from non-residents who occasionally wander in, the swanky yellow kennel on the ground floor – with a flap door, a bathing area and a team of doctors – houses the formerly homeless Goa, Sweety, Junior, Simba, Chhotu, Rana , Jackal, Bushy and Munni as permanent residents. In addition to pillows, toys and chews, their improved lifestyle apparently consists of food cooked in the five-star hotel’s kitchen.

His social media accounts provide a visual collage of Tata’s love for dogs. Sur, Sprite and Myra are among the dogs in need on whose behalf he has posted timely pleas for issues such as blood donation and adoption. “Of all the suffering that animals have to endure today, my heart truly breaks for those who are abandoned by families. I can’t imagine what must be going through their minds when they have a home one day and the not the next day.” t,” read a message calling on people to adopt nine-month-old Myra, an abandoned dog.

Another monsoon-related post talked about the importance of checking under the car before turning it on to avoid injuries to stray animals taking shelter.

On the 14th birthday of his late dog Tito, the caption under a photo on Instagram of the veteran holding his pet’s paw read: “I still come home to two kind souls and meet so many others in and around the office. While few have the comfort of families, many struggling in the streets, and yet somehow their affection remains the same. Those of you who strive for the well-being of the voiceless truly have my respect.

It was Tata’s transcontinental struggle to find advanced care for his injured dog that recently led to the birth of a six-month-old dog. Small Animal Hospital Mumbai (SAHM) – a 9,000-square-foot facility in Mahalaxmi that provides 24-hour medical care to dogs, cats, rabbits and other small animals. In an exclusive interview with TOI before the inauguration of the hospital, Tata recalled the ordeal he faced before flying his dog to the University of Minnesota in the US for a joint replacement. “But I was too late, so they froze the dog’s joint in a certain position. That experience allowed me to see what a world-class animal hospital was equipped to do.”

“In a world where pandemics are caused by the proximity of animals and people; where rabies is still fatal; and where a rising storm of antibiotic-resistant bacteria rages; animal health is more important than ever,” said the hospital’s chief veterinarian, Dr. Thomas Heathcote in a quote on the hospital’s website, adding that SAHM believes in working with pet parents and other veterinarians in Mumbai to create a positive world “where health and wellness are achievable and medical care is accessible to all .”