New Delhi: Is there anything that can bring a community of strangers together? At Okhla’s NSIC Grounds on Saturday, the answer came with wet noses and wagging tails as man’s most loyal companions took centre stage at a pet festival. With dedicated play zones for your feline and canine friends, several stalls are on display at two-day Pet Fed. Being held over the weekend from 11am to 9pm, it features many fun and engaging activities such as cat show Catapalooza, adoption camps, Walk & Wags, and Pet’s Got Talent.
The event also features stalls by pet food brands, veterinary and pharma companies, accessory manufacturers and various service providers enhancing their well-being. One of the stalls was occupied by a unique pet taxi service, in business in Delhi-NCR for almost 10 years. They offer a hassle-free and safe travel, providing boarding pick and drop or vet visits. There are also outstation travel services.One of the food brands claims to use 100% human-grade ingredients. With a sustainable packaging, its founder said they believed in providing preservative-free treats and toppers. They started their own home kitchen for pets after rescuing a French bulldog, Louie.Another standout was an ice cream venture, in the market for over a year in eight cities. It was started to create a healthy and delicious treat for dogs in sweltering weather. They also make dog waffles and honey.A dog rescue organisation based out of Dwarka was also present. In the past two months, 13 dogs were adopted from there, leaving behind six more strays.Among visitors were Anupriya, who has been coming to Pet Fed for three years with her pet daughter Oreo, who loves to shop. Pet parent Sneha came with her two-year-old shih tzu Archie. “He is my soul dog,” she said. Excited to jump from her stroller to enjoy the weather was six-year-old pomeranian Marshmellow, who came for the second time with her mother Ayumi.The event is open to all kinds of pets, including rabbits, birds and even exotic ones like iguanas. The venue is equipped with water stations, poop bags and on-site medical assistance. Every entry is monitored to ensure that only vaccinated and healthy pets participate. Founder Akshay Gupta started the festival 11 years ago, fascinated by how Comic Con has built a community around superheroes. “We started small with a one-day event, but have scaled up with 20,000 pet parents and 3,500 pets.” He added, “To ensure safety, we tag the pets with a flag attached to their leashes saying whether a pet is friendly or aggresive.”
Join The Discussion