Planning for a vacation is all hunky-dory until you realise that you will have to leave your beloved dog behind. Well, they could always stay at a friend's place, but can they love your furry best friend the way you do? But there are a few people in Bhubaneswar who are as mad about dogs as you are who guarantee that your four-legged friends will be well tended to. Deepak Behera, Akram Khan, Gautam Das and Usman Khan started Mad For Dogs, a hostel, grooming saloon and store that caters to all requirements of man's best friend.
Started just one and a half months ago in Patia, this 700 square feet house with a huge hall was converted into a hostel for dogs because Usman Khan was going through the same predicament. "I was unable to go anywhere because I did not want to leave Hero alone," says the 25-year-old speaking about his Labrador. So he got together with his childhood friends and together they started this shelter, which is much more than just that. From trimming to baths, they go the extra mile for all dogs. And while you wait for your dog, you could buy toys that will make your furry friend even happier.
When it comes to the hostel, their hall is divided into different blocks and they even offer to feed your dog as per the diet you wish. "We even send daily updates, pictures and videos, to dog owners. We also facilitate video calls if need be," adds Usman, who pursued his BTech from CV Raman College of Engineering, Bhubaneswar. Shampoos specially flown in from Mumbai and Kolkata, biscuits for snacks and air-conditioned lodgings are just some of the facilities offered to make the space as comfortable for dogs as possible. They serve Pedigree Pro to dogs unless instructed otherwise by their owners. While Usman works full-time at the hostel, there is also a helper too.
All this has certainly made them popular enough. So much so that they are booked for the whole month and are considering opening a new branch. "We have people who travel 100 km to drop off their dogs. We have also had instances where dogs have stayed comfortable with us for a long time, as many as 45 days," he informs.
Apart from this, in Khordha, Usman has a four-acre land and is toying with the idea of doing something for stray dogs, especially those who are handicapped. But that's for the future. Right now, the four friends are giving it their all to Mad for Dogs.
