Pooch, pooch hota hai
By all counts, the only possible downside of being a celebrity pet is an overdose of the good life...
Celebrities are known to be living an extravagant lifestyle, can their beloved pets be far behind? For most, the four-legged friend enjoys as much if not more luxury thanks to its doting owners.
Hollywood superstar Paris Hilton even walked the fashion runways with her little ferret Rascal cradled in her arms. Apparently, Paris had even landed herself in trouble after trying to take a host of animals on a plane with her.
Nearer home, there's word that Fardeen Khan's dogs are treated to lamb chops daily, Kim Sharma's dog has her own maid while Salman Khan's dogs - Myson and Myjaan - travel with him with their own chefs.
Even shopping trip aren't complete without some gifts for their four-legged frineds - if Upen Patel picks up branded collars for his pets, Bipasha Basu makes sure to buy gifts for her dog Poshto during her foreign jaunts.
In most cases, the bond between the owner and pet is so strong that they become nearly inseparable.
Recently sitar maestro Pandit Ravi Shankar did not check into a five-star hotel after it denied entry to Sukhi, a one-and-half-year female that has been his constant companion for some years.
A few years ago, Raveena Tandon was so upset about her dog going missing that it made front page news when it was finally traced.
TV actor Tassnim Sheikh aka Tanisha Nerurkar, says her seven-year old Pomeranian, Polly, is "too nice" to believe.
"I treat her with love and care and make no slips in her sterilisation," she says. "A separate car to take her around and a raincoat and shoes during monsoons are a necessity and not items of luxury for Polly," adds Tassnim.
On the other hand, Nausheen Ali Sardar feels pets need love rather than luxurious trappings. "I give my pets a comfortable rather than luxurious life. The poor pet doesn't even know what diamonds are, so diamond-studded collars or leashes make no sense to me.
My dogs (two pugs, two Rottweilers and a stray) get their regular share of picnics and a monthly visit to a lake house on the outskirts of the city. They love playing by the lakeside and I look forward to taking them there."
But you'd agree that Nausheen's dogs are no less pampered as she shares their gifts. "India doesn't have as many varieties yet as foreign countries do in accessories. When I travel abroad, I get them a bag full of goodies like biscuits, chewies and quilts," she smiles.
But if you do want your pets to live life 'king size', the options are nearly endless. There is a deluge of the latest t-shirts, caps, gloves and the like every 20 days or so, while now you can even get them deodorants — floral and fruit perfumes come priced at around Rs 200.
Then there are diapers for the yet-to-be-toilet-trained to massagers to ease those aching musles after a hard day. And they call it a dog's life.
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