The new trend of keeping ants as pets in Singapore has stormed the world. Watch report.

Singapore's new trend of anti-keeping

British dog breeders have seen a huge surge in demand for puppies during the coronavirus lockdown and are worried that many families will give them up once they realise the scale of the responsibility ahead.

They call it puppy love: Lockdown Britain sees surge in demand for dogs

More than a thousand pets are currently stranded worldwide by the flight cancellations and border closures aimed at curbing the spread of the coronavirus pandemic

Stranded pets, desperate owners: coronavirus separates furry family members

People in isolation, looking for animal companionship, have started to adopt dogs. And many dogs have made new friends in the volunteers who walk the pets of elderly people.

Abandoned pets find new homes in Moscow

<p>According to The American Humane Association estimates, 1 in 3 dogs in the US get lost at some point in their lives with many of them never returning home.</p>

<p>A few young entrepreneurs in the India's IT capital, Bengaluru, who are also dog lovers, felt that the problem was far worse in India but there were no statistics to prove it. Nonetheless, Advaith Mohan, Ajith Kochery and Siddharth Darbha decided to do something about the problem and developed 'Wagr.'&nbsp;</p>

<p>The device as small as&nbsp;6cm x 4cm, Wagr can be attached to your dog's collar which will enable the pet owner&nbsp;to track its location and movements in real-time.</p>

<p>The device has an inbuilt GPS sensor and a SIM card that lets you define your pet's safe zone through an add on the mobile phone application.</p>

<p>"The device contains a GPS sensor as well as a pre-installed SIM card which allows you to essentially create safe zones on a companion app in areas where your dog is safe - like your house or office. The sensor and SIM card works in tandem to alert you if your dog ever exits the safe zone and allows you to track your dog real-time anywhere in the country. Wherever there is a cellular network in India, you will be able to track your dog. Even if you are outside the country, it allows you to track, " says Advaith Mohan, Co-founder of Wagr.</p>

<p>"It also has motion sensors which we have calibrated based on the breed of your dog that allows you to know how much exercise and rest your dog is getting every day,' Mohan added.</p>

<p>Currently close to 300 units of Wagr are being used by pet owners and the founders are working to improve the device and incorporate more features, making life slightly easier for pet parents.</p>

<p>They are now working on device's ability for advanced activity detection, that will help gauge the long-term and short-term health patterns of dogs.</p>

<p>Four key areas that will require detection is scratching, shivering, licking and eating, that can be indications of serious health conditions. More advanced activity detection can also lead to early diagnoses of diseases like hip dysplasia in dogs.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Jahnavi, a dog parent in the city of Bengaluru says that her anxiety about the well-being of her pet&nbsp;when she is not around, has certainly come down as she is now able to track her dog in real-time.</p>

<p>'The most important thing is when I am at work I generally tend to worry about how she is doing. I used to live alone, but then I moved to ensure I have flatmates so that someone can be around her all the time. But now I can see what she is doing. Though she is a house pet, she does tend to run outside when the door is open. If I am not around, it is hard to get her to come back. But now when she exits the safe zone I get a notification. So that is the biggest advantage that I have with it.' says Jahnavi.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I am a dog parent and I have lost a dog before. The other co-founders are also dog lovers. Few years back we got to working on start-up ideas together and having lost a dog before the matter was close to our hearts, " Advaith said.</p>

<p>"When we got a new dog we realised that dog parents are facing more issues now. We also spoke to other dog lovers and realised that taking care of the safety and health of the dog is of utmost importance. To give you a statistic, in the US 1 in 3 dogs get lost and very few actually return home. On the health side, obesity is one of the leading health threats to dogs. Over 2-3 years of a dog's lifespan is reduced due to obesity. These were the primary problems we were attempting to tackle and Wagr was the obvious solution," Advaith added.&nbsp;</p>


According to The American Humane Association estimates, 1 in 3 dogs in the US get lost at some point in their lives with many of them never returning home. A few young entrepreneurs in the India's IT capital, Bengaluru, who are also dog lovers, felt that the problem was far worse in India but there were no statistics to prove it.

According to The American Humane Association estimates, 1 in 3 dogs in the US get lost at some point in their lives with many of them never returning home. A few young entrepreneurs in the India's IT capital, Bengaluru, who are also dog lovers, felt that the problem was far worse in India but there were no statistics to prove it. Nonetheless, Advaith Mohan, Ajith Kochery and Siddharth Darbha decided to do something about the problem and developed 'Wagr.' The device as small as 6cm x 4cm, Wagr can be attached to your dog's collar which will enable the pet owner to track its location and movements in real-time. The device has an inbuilt GPS sensor and a SIM card that lets you define your pet's safe zone through an add on the mobile phone application. "The device contains a GPS sensor as well as a pre-installed SIM card which allows you to essentially create safe zones on a companion app in areas where your dog is safe - like your house or office. The sensor and SIM card works in tandem to alert you if your dog ever exits the safe zone and allows you to track your dog real-time anywhere in the country. Wherever there is a cellular network in India, you will be able to track your dog. Even if you are outside the country, it allows you to track, " says Advaith Mohan, Co-founder of Wagr. "It also has motion sensors which we have calibrated based on the breed of your dog that allows you to know how much exercise and rest your dog is getting every day,' Mohan added. Currently close to 300 units of Wagr are being used by pet owners and the founders are working to improve the device and incorporate more features, making life slightly easier for pet parents. They are now working on device's ability for advanced activity detection, that will help gauge the long-term and short-term health patterns of dogs. Four key areas that will require detection is scratching, shivering, licking and eating, that can be indications of serious health conditions. More advanced activity detection can also lead to early diagnoses of diseases like hip dysplasia in dogs. Jahnavi, a dog parent in the city of Bengaluru says that her anxiety about the well-being of her pet when she is not around, has certainly come down as she is now able to track her dog in real-time. 'The most important thing is when I am at work I generally tend to worry about how she is doing. I used to live alone, but then I moved to ensure I have flatmates so that someone can be around her all the time. But now I can see what she is doing. Though she is a house pet, she does tend to run outside when the door is open. If I am not around, it is hard to get her to come back. But now when she exits the safe zone I get a notification. So that is the biggest advantage that I have with it.' says Jahnavi. "I am a dog parent and I have lost a dog before. The other co-founders are also dog lovers. Few years back we got to working on start-up ideas together and having lost a dog before the matter was close to our hearts, " Advaith said. "When we got a new dog we realised that dog parents are facing more issues now. We also spoke to other dog lovers and realised that taking care of the safety and health of the dog is of utmost importance. To give you a statistic, in the US 1 in 3 dogs get lost and very few actually return home. On the health side, obesity is one of the leading health threats to dogs. Over 2-3 years of a dog's lifespan is reduced due to obesity. These were the primary problems we were attempting to tackle and Wagr was the obvious solution," Advaith added.

Bengaluru: Startup launches 'Wagr', a wearable to track real-time location of pets

Acupuncture for dogs? Hydrotherapy for cats? As pet ownership in the US has increased to nearly 85 million households, so too has the variety of treatments available for our furry friends. With some treatments costing upwards of $5,000 and trendy diets seeping their way into pet foods, the industry is beginning to mirror its human counterpart.

Acupuncture? Hydrotherapy? Pets in America now get human treatment

<p>Eleven-year-old Bess waits patiently to be immersed in water just a little cooler than her body temperature.</p>

<p>Her hydrotherapy session will last only 17 minutes but it does wonders for this arthritis sufferer. Bess is a cat.</p>

<p>To ease her joint pain, the Maine Coon, a touch overweight at 21 pounds (10 kilograms), is taken every week to the Friendship Hospital for Animals, a veterinary clinic on a pleasant Washington street.</p>

<p>Beyond traditional veterinary treatment, the clinic offers forms of care once reserved for humans, such as acupuncture and therapeutic ultrasound.</p>

<p>Pets are now increasingly seen as genuine family members, said Christine Klippen, one of the 63 veterinarians who are available at the clinic every day of the year.</p>

<p>And this is particularly true for millennials, she said, who see themselves as moms and dads to their "fur babies."</p>

<p>Given the higher incomes in the US capital, they often seek out the best pet care available.</p>

<p>In the United States, 84.9 million households, or 68 per cent, have a pet, according to Steve King, head of the American Pet Products Association.</p>

<p>"Millennials are the largest pet-owning demographic among all generations," he said, and have surpassed the postwar Baby Boom generation.</p>

<p>Last year, consumer spending on pets hit a record $72.6 billion and the APPA expects this will rise to $75.4 billion in 2019.</p>

<p>Health care spending is the fastest-rising category as pet owners learn about available treatments.</p>

<p>"There's less pushback than there was," said Brant Hassell, a veterinarian practising at the District Veterinary Hospital.</p>

<p>"These dogs are a lot of people's first children," he said.</p>

<p>"If I say, 'Oh, my goodness. This dog has a loose tooth,' they're just like, 'my baby!'"</p>

<p>Back at Friendship Hospital, Bess the cat walks on an underwater treadmill, the water up to her whiskers, the pace slow and regular as a metronome.</p>

<p>But to keep up, Bella, a "senior" dog, needed a little extra motivation in the form of peanut butter.</p>

<p>"We are more selective with food when they're overweight," said Janay Austin-Carlson, a rehabilitation practitioner.</p>

<p>Walking in water creates greater resistance to movement, making exercise more effective.</p>

<p>"One minute in here is much harder than one minute outside," she said.</p>

<p>Given Washington's often oppressive summertime heat, where temperatures can easily hit 95 degrees Fahrenheit (35 degrees Celsius) and humidity rises to 70 per cent, the animals can also exercise in relative comfort.</p>

<p>"We can play with the speed, the water level," said Austin-Carlson. "All those things create different dynamics."</p>

<p><strong>$15,000 for dialysis</strong></p>

<p>Bella's "mom," 45-year-old Freya Jackson, says hydrotherapy has been a godsend.</p>

<p>"When she comes, she's usually tired afterwards and needs a long nap. But the day after you can really see she could move around more freely," said Jackson.</p>

<p>Still, Bella's fitness regime is not exactly free: A 20-minute hydrotherapy session runs to $89 and comes after 15 minutes of laser therapy at $65.</p>

<p>And Bella has stuck to this weekly routine for a year.</p>

<p>Jackson said having a healthy dog helps her own exercise habits and, given that she has no children, the expense fits her budget.</p>

<p>"I'm investing in myself to stay fit and healthy and be able to run around," she said. "It is a part of my wellbeing."</p>

<p>Pet owners are generally healthier people, coping better with conditions such as autism, dementia and cardiovascular disease, according to studies funded by the Human-Animal Bond Research Institute.</p>

<p>Having a dog or cat in the house typically lowers blood pressure and children may suffer less frequently from allergies.</p>

<p>Generally, pets improve mental health, according to Klippen of the Friendship Hospital.</p>

<p>"Because we view our pets in a more human way it is no longer meaningful enough for us to simply give them a biscuit," said King of the APPA.</p>

<p>And some pet owners are ready to spare no expense: Dialysis can run between $12,000 and $15,000 while the price tag on orthopaedic surgery ranges from $5,000 to $7,000.&nbsp;</p>

<p>But humanizing pets can involve controversial or even dangerous health practices such as needlessly imposing grain or gluten-free diets on animals.&nbsp;</p>

<p>This simply does not suit their nutritional needs and can cause premature death, according to Klippen.</p>

<p>In the meantime, US authorities say they have begun scrutinizing potential ties between such popular, newfangled diets and the prevalence of heart disease in dogs.</p>


Eleven-year-old Bess waits patiently to be immersed in water just a little cooler than her body temperature. Her hydrotherapy session will last only 17 minutes but it does wonders for this arthritis sufferer.

Eleven-year-old Bess waits patiently to be immersed in water just a little cooler than her body temperature. Her hydrotherapy session will last only 17 minutes but it does wonders for this arthritis sufferer. Bess is a cat. To ease her joint pain, the Maine Coon, a touch overweight at 21 pounds (10 kilograms), is taken every week to the Friendship Hospital for Animals, a veterinary clinic on a pleasant Washington street. Beyond traditional veterinary treatment, the clinic offers forms of care once reserved for humans, such as acupuncture and therapeutic ultrasound. Pets are now increasingly seen as genuine family members, said Christine Klippen, one of the 63 veterinarians who are available at the clinic every day of the year. And this is particularly true for millennials, she said, who see themselves as moms and dads to their "fur babies." Given the higher incomes in the US capital, they often seek out the best pet care available. In the United States, 84.9 million households, or 68 per cent, have a pet, according to Steve King, head of the American Pet Products Association. "Millennials are the largest pet-owning demographic among all generations," he said, and have surpassed the postwar Baby Boom generation. Last year, consumer spending on pets hit a record $72.6 billion and the APPA expects this will rise to $75.4 billion in 2019. Health care spending is the fastest-rising category as pet owners learn about available treatments. "There's less pushback than there was," said Brant Hassell, a veterinarian practising at the District Veterinary Hospital. "These dogs are a lot of people's first children," he said. "If I say, 'Oh, my goodness. This dog has a loose tooth,' they're just like, 'my baby!'" Back at Friendship Hospital, Bess the cat walks on an underwater treadmill, the water up to her whiskers, the pace slow and regular as a metronome. But to keep up, Bella, a "senior" dog, needed a little extra motivation in the form of peanut butter. "We are more selective with food when they're overweight," said Janay Austin-Carlson, a rehabilitation practitioner. Walking in water creates greater resistance to movement, making exercise more effective. "One minute in here is much harder than one minute outside," she said. Given Washington's often oppressive summertime heat, where temperatures can easily hit 95 degrees Fahrenheit (35 degrees Celsius) and humidity rises to 70 per cent, the animals can also exercise in relative comfort. "We can play with the speed, the water level," said Austin-Carlson. "All those things create different dynamics." $15,000 for dialysis Bella's "mom," 45-year-old Freya Jackson, says hydrotherapy has been a godsend. "When she comes, she's usually tired afterwards and needs a long nap. But the day after you can really see she could move around more freely," said Jackson. Still, Bella's fitness regime is not exactly free: A 20-minute hydrotherapy session runs to $89 and comes after 15 minutes of laser therapy at $65. And Bella has stuck to this weekly routine for a year. Jackson said having a healthy dog helps her own exercise habits and, given that she has no children, the expense fits her budget. "I'm investing in myself to stay fit and healthy and be able to run around," she said. "It is a part of my wellbeing." Pet owners are generally healthier people, coping better with conditions such as autism, dementia and cardiovascular disease, according to studies funded by the Human-Animal Bond Research Institute. Having a dog or cat in the house typically lowers blood pressure and children may suffer less frequently from allergies. Generally, pets improve mental health, according to Klippen of the Friendship Hospital. "Because we view our pets in a more human way it is no longer meaningful enough for us to simply give them a biscuit," said King of the APPA. And some pet owners are ready to spare no expense: Dialysis can run between $12,000 and $15,000 while the price tag on orthopaedic surgery ranges from $5,000 to $7,000. But humanizing pets can involve controversial or even dangerous health practices such as needlessly imposing grain or gluten-free diets on animals. This simply does not suit their nutritional needs and can cause premature death, according to Klippen. In the meantime, US authorities say they have begun scrutinizing potential ties between such popular, newfangled diets and the prevalence of heart disease in dogs.

Pets in America now get human treatment

Animal hotel, shelter in Egypt gives pets, strays safe place to stay

<p>The idea of coming home to your pet after a long day at work is one that most would agree as a great stress buster. The West has already been successful in coming up with a concept called Pet Therapy that involves animal-assisted activities or animal-assisted therapy for those dealing with stress and other related issues.<br />
&nbsp;<br />
Interestingly, the concept is now making its way to a developing country like India where an average middle-class person is constantly juggling between several responsibilities, while making a decent living. Keeping in mind the growing societal pressure on an individual to perform and succeed, a small, yet, bright venture in India called Fur Ball Story is using pet therapy as a model to help people relax, find comfort, recover from serious illnesses and stay happier in general.</p>

<p>They also aim to &ldquo;help those with any form of disability in coming to terms with life and to provide them unconditional love for motivation. At Fur Ball Story, the aim is to alleviate stress at the very basic level so that it does not reach the chronic stages.&rdquo;</p>

<p><strong>Start of a Story</strong><br />
&nbsp;<br />
It all started when Animesh Katiyar, co-founder Fur Ball Story got two Labrador puppies for recreational purposes. The dogs became an instant hit among his peers and became a source of happiness for first year students who were unable to deal with homesickness, absenteeism, result-related pressure and others.<br />
&nbsp;<br />
Animesh then researched about the concept and resolved to start something of his own using this model. The startup got registered in September 2016 with two of Animesh&rsquo;s friends, Srishti Sharma and Arushi Dixit joining him in this endeavor.</p>

<p>Animesh says, &ldquo;If the concept could be successful at such a small-scale (in college), it would probably work wonders at a large-scale. That&rsquo;s how Fur Ball Story began.&rdquo;&nbsp;</p>

<p>Dishiti Titus, a lawyer who has a dog at home agrees that her pet is her stress buster and mood uplifter. She says, &ldquo;Sometimes you just need a shoulder to lean on when you&#39;re low--no advice, no consoling or sometimes you just need to be alone. Whenever I&#39;ve been low and I want a break from humans, I go out and sit on the steps of my house. &nbsp;Everytime without fail, I&#39;ve had muddy paws and a wet nose come inspect. I could scream at my dog and tell her to go away but instead she sits against me and just minds her own business, making sure her presence is felt. My furry friend and her innocent face is a mood lifter. It works every time.&rdquo;</p>

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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>Ashutosh Uttarwar, another pet owner says, &ldquo;It&#39;s hard to point at one specific thing that he (dog) does for me but he&#39;s &nbsp;been with us for six years and everytime I&#39;m feeling tense or sad, I simply go and hug him. He helps relieve a lot of negativity. Today I was worried about some decisions I had to make and kept freaking out about how the future will turn out, so I got Pablo (dog) to my bed and lay&nbsp;down with him. Not only did he relieve my stress, but slowly I started to think more clearly and realised I needn&#39;t worry and could focus better.&rdquo;&nbsp;</p>

<p>But to be a pet owner is one thing and call for a pet therapy session quite another. Is India, with its blanket vision of stereotypes and strong cultural opposition to therapy, ready for this ?<br />
&nbsp;<br />
Animesh confirms, &ldquo;Yes, India is conservative when it comes to therapy but there are two reasons why this hasn&rsquo;t affected our business:<br />
&nbsp;<br />
&ldquo;People hardly understand the scientific relevance attached to pet therapy. To most, it still is just about playing with dogs. Those who find it interesting, give us a call and while they think it&rsquo;s just some time they are spending with dogs, the therapy does its work and leaves a mark without them knowing. As long as our purpose is served, it hardly matters what stereotypes the client has.</p>

<p>&ldquo;Also, not a lot of Indians are conservative about therapy anymore.&rdquo;</p>

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<p>Furry Army&#39;s Angel at Burger King, CP (WION)</p>
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<p>What keeps them going, I ask?</p>

<p>Animesh answers, &ldquo;The unconditional love of the members of our furry army, and the happy, satisfied faces of our clients. When a parent of an autistic child sees her interacting with our pooches and smiling after a long time, his speechlessness and wet eyes give us all the motivation we require to keep it going, despite the hardships.&rdquo;</p>

<p>Aanchal Kalra, a photographer by profession narrates how pet therapy changed her life. She was able to survive a troubled phase in her life after she came in contact with therapy dogs. She says, &ldquo;My dog had passed away and I started remaining sad during most hours of the day. Every other small problem started adding to the agony. It was a really tough time for me. I had gotten that dog (now dead) for myself after suffering from clinical depression for five years. It was difficult to get over that and lead a normal life.</p>

<p>&ldquo;That&#39;s when I went to Pet Fed&#39;16 as a photographer and came across Fur Ball Story&#39;s stall. After the event, I called them for a residential session and it became a regular thing. After a few weeks, I had to shift to Mumbai for work and it seriously wouldn&#39;t have been as smooth as it was, had there not been the existing support and unconditional love of the furry army.&rdquo;</p>

<p><strong>Therapy Training for Dogs</strong></p>

<p>How do the dogs get therapy training?&nbsp;</p>

<p>Animesh explains, &ldquo;The primary requirement of having a therapy dog is, that it must be your pet, it must be your full-time partner in crime. So yes, these dogs are our pets. They live with the founders of the company. We address these dogs as furry army, individually known as Angel (Gold retriever), Muffin (Labrador) and Cocoa (Shih-tzu).&nbsp;</p>

<p>&ldquo;Therapy training is very different from other kinds of training being provided to dogs such as sniffing or protection. In this, the dog is taught two main things: focus and interaction. The dog is trained with a handler, and for that dog, the handler has to become nothing less than a godly figure. And all this is done with the help of treats. We use salami in training our dogs. It&rsquo;s call positive enforcement training or reward-based training.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&ldquo;Therapy training is taught by taking the dogs in public places and teaching him to ignore everyone but their handler. The dog will follow and notice only the handler and when the handler commands the dog to interact with people, the dog does so by sitting next to them so that people pet him.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&ldquo;For a therapy training, the chemistry between the dog and the handler has to be top notch. Therapy dogs are not allowed to bite, bark or lunge as it may scare or worsen the condition of the people, specifically patients such as autistic or other mentally or physically challenged people. (We prefer the term differently abled). Our training is given by Mr. Varun Anand, who is one of the very few people who is internationally certified to train and certify therapy dogs.&rdquo; &nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Human-Animal bond</strong></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

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<h5>Cuddling a pet releases the &lsquo;cuddle chemical&rsquo; oxytocin in both human and pet. This chemical has a calming and soothing effect in both, leading to development of a bond between the two--almost as intense as that between two humans.</h5>
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<p>Several researches indicate that being in proximity with an animal reduces stress substantially and makes one feel lighter.</p>

<p>Millinjyot, a clinical psychologist trained in veterinary medicine says, &ldquo;Studies have been focusing on the fact that interacting with animals can increase people&#39;s level of the &lsquo;hormone oxytocin&rsquo;. Cuddling a pet releases the &lsquo;cuddle chemical&rsquo; oxytocin in both human and pet. This chemical has a calming and soothing effect in both, leading to development of a bond between the two--almost as intense as that between two humans.&rdquo;</p>

<p>Animesh confirms that it&rsquo;s true for his furry friends too, that there has been a considerable change in the nature and mood of his dogs. He says, &ldquo;Our dogs are most happy when they have people around, because that&rsquo;s the way they&rsquo;re trained, so being in sessions is the best time for them.&rdquo;</p>

<p>Studies have continued in this field since a long time. Dr. Aubrey H. Fine, a clinical psychologist and author of several books on human-animal bond can be cited in his books: &ldquo;Use of pets in medical settings actually dates back more than 150 years. One could even look at Florence Nightingale (Founder of modern nursing) recognising that animals provided a level of social support in the institutional care of the mentally ill.&rdquo;</p>

<p>&ldquo;The human-animal bond is a mutually beneficial and dynamic relationship between people and animals that positively influences the health and well-being of both&rdquo;, he adds in his books.&nbsp;</p>

<p>But this exercise must be exhausting for the pets, I ask Animesh?&nbsp;</p>

<p>Animesh ensures, &ldquo;We make sure that the dogs are taken care of even during the sessions--they are given breaks and personal time to relax or sleep. On regulars days, they chill at the house with a family member, or are taken to parks for recreation and exercise. &nbsp;Pre-and post session they&rsquo;re back in the house doing their own thing.&rdquo;</p>

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<p>The Furry Army at Nagarro&#39;s Gurgaon office in a pet therapy session (WION)</p>
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<p><strong>Limitations</strong></p>

<p>Has there been any limitation for a startup like Fur Ball Story while including animals in therapy?</p>

<p>&ldquo;With regard to hospitals, people raise concerns of hygiene but our dogs are fully vaccinated and are given utmost care when it comes to maintaining cleanliness-- as we know our clientele. Another challenge, is to tackle people who might not be receptive to dogs and will object to their presence in the building.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&ldquo;When it comes to bringing the pets to a residence, the only issue is that some people call us in the afternoon and want the session to happen outside in open. We can&rsquo;t do that due to weather issues, obviously. For a therapy session to happen, we always need ample space and an air conditioned environment.&rdquo;</p>

<p><strong>Adopt Pets and Say No to Animal Abuse</strong></p>

<p>With Fur Ball Story, Animesh and his co-founders are trying to build a culture of &ldquo;encourage adoption, increase productivity and decrease animal abuse&rdquo;.<br />
&nbsp;<br />
With an established premise of pet therapy and its benefits to both animals and humans, Fur Ball Story wants to break barriers of just adopting purebred breeds. They want to encourage adoption of indie dogs and discourage abandonment of a furry family member once he or she is old or sick. The startup aims to involve more number of people who can benefit from pet therapy and also increase sensitivity towards animals--lowering rates of animal abuse.<br />
&nbsp;<br />
Animesh says, &ldquo;Upon spending time with a therapy dog, people tend to undergo certain hormonal changes in the body due to which stress reduces, people start feeling happier and thus they end up giving their 100 per cent&nbsp;in whatever work they indulge in. While providing corporate sessions, we advise clients to opt for 3-months long collaboration wherein regular sessions are provided to the employees. This inculcates a feeling of belongingness in employee and he feels like coming to office for something other than money. Such positive changes improve the productivity of the person.&rdquo;</p>

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<h5>I got angry at first but when those little balls of fur approached me with loving eyes and licked me and wagged their tails, I felt something different</h5>
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<p>A therapy-seeker, Pankaj Gulati is a banker who admits being short-tempered throughout his life. He says, &ldquo;My anger has affected my health at certain times. One day, my son just randomly called Fur Ball Story home with their dogs. I got angry at first but when those little balls of fur approached me with loving eyes and licked me and wagged their tails, I felt something different. It&#39;s hard to explain that feeling--initially I did not support it at all, just kept sitting in a corner but till when can you ignore those eyes. The dogs when they came home, they changed the entire atmosphere. After two to three sessions with those cute dogs, I ended up asking my son to adopt one for our own. My family now believes that playing with the dogs has calmed me down. All I know is that I feel happy around them.&rdquo;</p>

<p>Apart from improving productivity and reducing stress with pet therapy, Fur Ball Story also touches upon an important factor of animal sensitivity. In the wake of several incidents where youngsters all around the country have been seen abusing animals, particularly dogs, it is an important step.<br />
&nbsp;<br />
Animesh says, &ldquo;We are attempting to spread animal sensitivity in India with the help of our sessions. Wherever we go for therapy, apart from telling them the benefits of a therapy dog, we also help them understand how to interact with stray dogs and indies in the neighborhood. We educate kids about the fact that the Indian dogs are not harmful, it&rsquo;s all about how our approach is towards them is, and we make them learn the right approach so that violence against these animals can be reduced.&rdquo; &nbsp;</p>

<p>An organisation like Fur Ball Story in India is one-of-a-kind. The startup is planning on expanding to cities Mumbai and Bangalore, and are also working on coming up with India&rsquo;s first therapy and recreational centre using animal-assisted therapy. Animesh adds, &ldquo;Once we are settled with pet therapy, we might start a range of organic dog food and other healthcare products.&rdquo;&nbsp;</p>

<p>(WION) &nbsp;</p>

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Pet therapy is emerging as a model to help people relax, find comfort, and recover from serious illnesses

The idea of coming home to your pet after a long day at work is one that most would agree as a great stress buster. The West has already been successful in coming up with a concept called Pet Therapy that involves animal-assisted activities or animal-assisted therapy for those dealing with stress and other related issues. Interestingly, the concept is now making its way to a developing country like India where an average middle-class person is constantly juggling between several responsibilities, while making a decent living. Keeping in mind the growing societal pressure on an individual to perform and succeed, a small, yet, bright venture in India called Fur Ball Story is using pet therapy as a model to help people relax, find comfort, recover from serious illnesses and stay happier in general. They also aim to “help those with any form of disability in coming to terms with life and to provide them unconditional love for motivation. At Fur Ball Story, the aim is to alleviate stress at the very basic level so that it does not reach the chronic stages.” Start of a Story It all started when Animesh Katiyar, co-founder Fur Ball Story got two Labrador puppies for recreational purposes. The dogs became an instant hit among his peers and became a source of happiness for first year students who were unable to deal with homesickness, absenteeism, result-related pressure and others. Animesh then researched about the concept and resolved to start something of his own using this model. The startup got registered in September 2016 with two of Animesh’s friends, Srishti Sharma and Arushi Dixit joining him in this endeavor. Animesh says, “If the concept could be successful at such a small-scale (in college), it would probably work wonders at a large-scale. That’s how Fur Ball Story began.” Dishiti Titus, a lawyer who has a dog at home agrees that her pet is her stress buster and mood uplifter. She says, “Sometimes you just need a shoulder to lean on when you're low--no advice, no consoling or sometimes you just need to be alone. Whenever I've been low and I want a break from humans, I go out and sit on the steps of my house. Everytime without fail, I've had muddy paws and a wet nose come inspect. I could scream at my dog and tell her to go away but instead she sits against me and just minds her own business, making sure her presence is felt. My furry friend and her innocent face is a mood lifter. It works every time.” I could scream at my dog and tell her to go away but instead she sits against me and just minds her own business, making sure her presence is felt × Ashutosh Uttarwar, another pet owner says, “It's hard to point at one specific thing that he (dog) does for me but he's been with us for six years and everytime I'm feeling tense or sad, I simply go and hug him. He helps relieve a lot of negativity. Today I was worried about some decisions I had to make and kept freaking out about how the future will turn out, so I got Pablo (dog) to my bed and lay down with him. Not only did he relieve my stress, but slowly I started to think more clearly and realised I needn't worry and could focus better.” But to be a pet owner is one thing and call for a pet therapy session quite another. Is India, with its blanket vision of stereotypes and strong cultural opposition to therapy, ready for this ? Animesh confirms, “Yes, India is conservative when it comes to therapy but there are two reasons why this hasn’t affected our business: “People hardly understand the scientific relevance attached to pet therapy. To most, it still is just about playing with dogs. Those who find it interesting, give us a call and while they think it’s just some time they are spending with dogs, the therapy does its work and leaves a mark without them knowing. As long as our purpose is served, it hardly matters what stereotypes the client has. “Also, not a lot of Indians are conservative about therapy anymore.” Furry Army's Angel at Burger King, CP (WION) × What keeps them going, I ask? Animesh answers, “The unconditional love of the members of our furry army, and the happy, satisfied faces of our clients. When a parent of an autistic child sees her interacting with our pooches and smiling after a long time, his speechlessness and wet eyes give us all the motivation we require to keep it going, despite the hardships.” Aanchal Kalra, a photographer by profession narrates how pet therapy changed her life. She was able to survive a troubled phase in her life after she came in contact with therapy dogs. She says, “My dog had passed away and I started remaining sad during most hours of the day. Every other small problem started adding to the agony. It was a really tough time for me. I had gotten that dog (now dead) for myself after suffering from clinical depression for five years. It was difficult to get over that and lead a normal life. “That's when I went to Pet Fed'16 as a photographer and came across Fur Ball Story's stall. After the event, I called them for a residential session and it became a regular thing. After a few weeks, I had to shift to Mumbai for work and it seriously wouldn't have been as smooth as it was, had there not been the existing support and unconditional love of the furry army.” Therapy Training for Dogs How do the dogs get therapy training? Animesh explains, “The primary requirement of having a therapy dog is, that it must be your pet, it must be your full-time partner in crime. So yes, these dogs are our pets. They live with the founders of the company. We address these dogs as furry army, individually known as Angel (Gold retriever), Muffin (Labrador) and Cocoa (Shih-tzu). “Therapy training is very different from other kinds of training being provided to dogs such as sniffing or protection. In this, the dog is taught two main things: focus and interaction. The dog is trained with a handler, and for that dog, the handler has to become nothing less than a godly figure. And all this is done with the help of treats. We use salami in training our dogs. It’s call positive enforcement training or reward-based training. “Therapy training is taught by taking the dogs in public places and teaching him to ignore everyone but their handler. The dog will follow and notice only the handler and when the handler commands the dog to interact with people, the dog does so by sitting next to them so that people pet him. “For a therapy training, the chemistry between the dog and the handler has to be top notch. Therapy dogs are not allowed to bite, bark or lunge as it may scare or worsen the condition of the people, specifically patients such as autistic or other mentally or physically challenged people. (We prefer the term differently abled). Our training is given by Mr. Varun Anand, who is one of the very few people who is internationally certified to train and certify therapy dogs.” Human-Animal bond Cuddling a pet releases the ‘cuddle chemical’ oxytocin in both human and pet. This chemical has a calming and soothing effect in both, leading to development of a bond between the two--almost as intense as that between two humans. × Several researches indicate that being in proximity with an animal reduces stress substantially and makes one feel lighter. Millinjyot, a clinical psychologist trained in veterinary medicine says, “Studies have been focusing on the fact that interacting with animals can increase people's level of the ‘hormone oxytocin’. Cuddling a pet releases the ‘cuddle chemical’ oxytocin in both human and pet. This chemical has a calming and soothing effect in both, leading to development of a bond between the two--almost as intense as that between two humans.” Animesh confirms that it’s true for his furry friends too, that there has been a considerable change in the nature and mood of his dogs. He says, “Our dogs are most happy when they have people around, because that’s the way they’re trained, so being in sessions is the best time for them.” Studies have continued in this field since a long time. Dr. Aubrey H. Fine, a clinical psychologist and author of several books on human-animal bond can be cited in his books: “Use of pets in medical settings actually dates back more than 150 years. One could even look at Florence Nightingale (Founder of modern nursing) recognising that animals provided a level of social support in the institutional care of the mentally ill.” “The human-animal bond is a mutually beneficial and dynamic relationship between people and animals that positively influences the health and well-being of both”, he adds in his books. But this exercise must be exhausting for the pets, I ask Animesh? Animesh ensures, “We make sure that the dogs are taken care of even during the sessions--they are given breaks and personal time to relax or sleep. On regulars days, they chill at the house with a family member, or are taken to parks for recreation and exercise. Pre-and post session they’re back in the house doing their own thing.” The Furry Army at Nagarro's Gurgaon office in a pet therapy session (WION) × Limitations Has there been any limitation for a startup like Fur Ball Story while including animals in therapy? “With regard to hospitals, people raise concerns of hygiene but our dogs are fully vaccinated and are given utmost care when it comes to maintaining cleanliness-- as we know our clientele. Another challenge, is to tackle people who might not be receptive to dogs and will object to their presence in the building. “When it comes to bringing the pets to a residence, the only issue is that some people call us in the afternoon and want the session to happen outside in open. We can’t do that due to weather issues, obviously. For a therapy session to happen, we always need ample space and an air conditioned environment.” Adopt Pets and Say No to Animal Abuse With Fur Ball Story, Animesh and his co-founders are trying to build a culture of “encourage adoption, increase productivity and decrease animal abuse”. With an established premise of pet therapy and its benefits to both animals and humans, Fur Ball Story wants to break barriers of just adopting purebred breeds. They want to encourage adoption of indie dogs and discourage abandonment of a furry family member once he or she is old or sick. The startup aims to involve more number of people who can benefit from pet therapy and also increase sensitivity towards animals--lowering rates of animal abuse. Animesh says, “Upon spending time with a therapy dog, people tend to undergo certain hormonal changes in the body due to which stress reduces, people start feeling happier and thus they end up giving their 100 per cent in whatever work they indulge in. While providing corporate sessions, we advise clients to opt for 3-months long collaboration wherein regular sessions are provided to the employees. This inculcates a feeling of belongingness in employee and he feels like coming to office for something other than money. Such positive changes improve the productivity of the person.” I got angry at first but when those little balls of fur approached me with loving eyes and licked me and wagged their tails, I felt something different × A therapy-seeker, Pankaj Gulati is a banker who admits being short-tempered throughout his life. He says, “My anger has affected my health at certain times. One day, my son just randomly called Fur Ball Story home with their dogs. I got angry at first but when those little balls of fur approached me with loving eyes and licked me and wagged their tails, I felt something different. It's hard to explain that feeling--initially I did not support it at all, just kept sitting in a corner but till when can you ignore those eyes. The dogs when they came home, they changed the entire atmosphere. After two to three sessions with those cute dogs, I ended up asking my son to adopt one for our own. My family now believes that playing with the dogs has calmed me down. All I know is that I feel happy around them.” Apart from improving productivity and reducing stress with pet therapy, Fur Ball Story also touches upon an important factor of animal sensitivity. In the wake of several incidents where youngsters all around the country have been seen abusing animals, particularly dogs, it is an important step. Animesh says, “We are attempting to spread animal sensitivity in India with the help of our sessions. Wherever we go for therapy, apart from telling them the benefits of a therapy dog, we also help them understand how to interact with stray dogs and indies in the neighborhood. We educate kids about the fact that the Indian dogs are not harmful, it’s all about how our approach is towards them is, and we make them learn the right approach so that violence against these animals can be reduced.” An organisation like Fur Ball Story in India is one-of-a-kind. The startup is planning on expanding to cities Mumbai and Bangalore, and are also working on coming up with India’s first therapy and recreational centre using animal-assisted therapy. Animesh adds, “Once we are settled with pet therapy, we might start a range of organic dog food and other healthcare products.” (WION)

Finding love in furry friends

Greece will be recruiting dogs to sniff out potential tax dodgers trying to take cash out of the crisis-hit country, where mass bank withdrawals prompted capital controls last year.<br />
<br />
In a posting on a government web portal on Wednesday, the Finance Ministry said it would be putting together a team to assess tenders for the provision of dogs tasked with detecting cash.<br />
<br />
More than 50 billion euros left banks from November 2014 to July last year on fears the country could crash out of the euro, a crisis which culminated in capital controls and a new international bailout for the country.<br />
<br />
Banking sources estimate that anything between 15 and 20 billion euros is still being hoarded by Greeks outside the banking system. Tax evasion is still thought to be rampant.<br />
<br />
Authorities prefer German Shepherds, Labradors or Belgian Melinois, the government document said, reported on Greece&#39;s Star Channel TV. A pedigree was not necessary.<br />
<br />
(Reuters)&nbsp;<br />
<br />
&nbsp;

Banking sources estimate that anything between 15 and 20 billion euros is still being hoarded by Greeks outside the banking system

Greece will be recruiting dogs to sniff out potential tax dodgers trying to take cash out of the crisis-hit country, where mass bank withdrawals prompted capital controls last year. In a posting on a government web portal on Wednesday, the Finance Ministry said it would be putting together a team to assess tenders for the provision of dogs tasked with detecting cash. More than 50 billion euros left banks from November 2014 to July last year on fears the country could crash out of the euro, a crisis which culminated in capital controls and a new international bailout for the country. Banking sources estimate that anything between 15 and 20 billion euros is still being hoarded by Greeks outside the banking system. Tax evasion is still thought to be rampant. Authorities prefer German Shepherds, Labradors or Belgian Melinois, the government document said, reported on Greece's Star Channel TV. A pedigree was not necessary. (Reuters)

Man's best friend may soon be sniffing out tax dodgers in crisis-hit Greece

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