HUNT

PETS MALL

Owned by Prajitha Nair and Sreekumar T S, Pets Mall was started because of the dearth of adequate pet help in Kochi. Their need for the right accessories and food for their pets drove them to actually set up a mall providing everything a pet might need. The stores (one at Warriam Road and the other on National Highway), provides special food (according to the breed and age) for cats and dogs, medicines and a range of accessories to make a pet feel special. The store takes things a step further by offering doctor-on-call service, as well as help with training and grooming of pets. For those who have to be away at times, a kennel run by Pets Mall looks after them, attending to their every need, till the owner returns (charges are Rs 200 a day for small sized animals and Rs 250 a day for the larger ones). In addition, to make things flamboyant, they also have a pet's parlour that groom pets and designer pets wear!

PETS MALL Warriam Road Ernakulam Kochi 682016

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PIGEON PALACE

Siju started Pigeon Palace five years back as a hobby. Now it's a place for exotic birds. With a variety of 20 different birds, pigeons range from King (of American origin) to Maltese (which first arrived from Italy) that average a price of Rs 20,000 for a pair. Prices, he says, depend on the market rate, and the demand and supply of birds. "Often, birds lay eggs but they never always hatch, causing a high demand for these rare birds." Pigeon Palace also has a range of pheasants like Lady Amherst's Pheasant found in China, Tibet and Manmar and costing Rs 30,000 a pair, to the Silver Pheasant whose price varies according to the length of the tail.

Breeding these birds, he says, is no easy task for combating diseases is always the challenge. Nevertheless the grandeur these birds exude is what makes the hobby a worthwhile business.

PIGEON PALACE 111/Samithi Road, Vaduthala P.O. Kochi-682023

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RUDRADAS KENNEL

An animal lover, Rudradas started breeding dogs at his home in 1985 simply because of his love for them. He has twelve breeds with him ? including the Miniature Pincher, Rottweiler and Boxer ? which are bred twice a year. A stud male of a particular breed resides at his kennel, while the females are often kept at his friends' homes. They are brought together and the litter divided equally. A micro chip is implanted in pure breed dogs, that enable one to check details of one's pet at anytime: fraud of any sort will thus be detected. Once a pup is bought from him, Rudradas is ready to give whatever help is required including providing information on the pet's history and feed.

RUDAS KENNEL Mythri Nagar Edapally P O Kochi 682024

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MAD DOG'S TRUST

A European registered charity, the organisation works towards improvement of both animal and human life in Fort Kochi. Run by Penny Shepherd, it aims to take care of the homeless dogs which wander the streets. A house was rented out and a portion of it converted into a clinic, where a doctor takes care of the dogs. In addition, Penny and her team have introduced an Animal Birth Control Programme to reduce street animal population. The shelter also collects and treats abused or neglected animals and returns them to their territories or re-homes them (their web site has details of animals looking for a home). They also have a slot for volunteers whose contribution can simply be cleaning and grooming. Penny says that they are hopefully able to also provide education and awareness about street animals, especially on rabies in order to remove fear of the disease, and thus to create love for them.

www.maddogstrust.com

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SURAKSHA K9 SECURITIES

Started by Sanjayan K P, Suraksha K9 came into being after Sanjayan's enrollment in the Border Security Force (BSF) in 1987. Completing a course at the National Training Centre for Dogs (part of BSF Academy) and his long term experience as an instructor, he took part in the All India Police Duty Meet (dog competition) and won a host of awards over a span of many years. Being part of the special protection group for the prime minister from 1998-2007 as an award winning dog squad trainer, Sanjayan later returned to Kerala after his retirement to start an institute for dog training.

Along with his brother he imparts training to dogs to perform a host of duties: as guard dogs, industrial security dogs, house security dogs, dogs trained to spot narcotics and explosives and those for personal protection. Dogs are left in their care for a specified period of time till they are trained or special trained dogs that perform prescribed duties are provided to clients. At a time 25 dogs are trained.

SURAKSHA K9 SECURITIES Puliyannoor P O Pala Kottayam