THE RISE OF FURRY FRIENDS IN BENGALURU

INTRODUCTION

Hello pet lovers, do you know the number of pets has been consistently on the rise in Bengaluru. Not just Bengaluru but the entirety of India is experiencing this phenomenon. We understand, who on earth wouldn’t want more of our cute furry companions right? Another thing to know is that among all the cities in India, Bangalore has the reputation of being very pet friendly. Now there are a number of reasons why Bangalore especially has a record for being very compatible with pets. However in this blog post we will take a look at what could be the possible reasons for the increase in the number of our furry friends.

According to a report by the economic times the market share of pet care in India was around 569.4 million USD or 4721 crore INR and is projected to reach 1932.6 million USD or 15754 crore indian rupees by 2030 [source- “pawsitive awareness: The rise of pet parents in India” by brand equity, economic times]. Wow! That is a staggering amount. The rate of pet adoption in India is witnessing rapid growth. Among these, dogs are the most common pets with 63% of pet owners having a dog followed by cats with 42% pet parents owning a cat [source- article “Pet parents on the rise in India” by Times of India]. Let us explore the reasons for this increase in the number of fur buddies in Bangalore:

1)     The culture demographics

2)     Health and wellness benefits

3)     Urbanization and lifestyle changes

4)     Social media influence

5)     Availability of pet products and Veterinary care

The Culture Demographics

Bengaluru and India in general have been animal friendly places since time immemorial. Some animals have been revered, associated with gods and even worshiped throughout history. The concept of having pets for the purpose of companionship is relatively new. Earlier pets were owned for utilitarian purposes such as guarding and hunting. But societal norms are evolving and people's perception of pets are changing. Pets are now considered valued members of the family providing love, companionship and emotional support. Pets have integrated themselves into our lives and we cannot imagine living without them.

Health and wellness benefits

Have you ever played around with a pet? If you have, you might agree that it was a fun and refreshing time. Exchanging love with a pet and forming a bond with them is truly a magical experience. Pets are known to show signs of empathy and create emotional bonds. Playing with your dog or stroking your cat's head will help release stress and relax. Pets these days are primarily owned for this reason. Playing with your fur babies releases your happy hormones. They provide emotional support, endless and unconditional love, companionship along with several other mental health benefits. Walking your pets and playing around with them could also be a source of physical activity for you.

Urbanization and lifestyle changes

Bengaluru today is a bustling metropolis and is a major technology hub and contributes greatly to the Indian economy. With urbanization, rapid development and people shifting to nuclear families or even living alone, there might be an increase in the feeling of loneliness and the craving for love and affection. Thankfully our pet protectors are here to combat loneliness, lend a paw in times of grief and shower us with endless love and cuddles!!

With considerable improvement in the economy and lifestyle, People have additional disposable income which they don't mind spending on pets. Earlier pets used to be considered a luxury and only rich people could afford them. Nowadays pets are all around, showering us with love and improving our lives. Slowly people have changed from calling themselves “pet owners” to calling themselves “pet parents”. A survey shows that Bengaluru spends highest on pets amounting to an average of 3000 rupees per month [source- article by ABPlive.com]

Social media influence

With more and more people getting access to the internet and social media, people are more connected, news spreads fast and so do “trends”. People watch pets on social media, post their pets on social media and even raise funding to save their fur buddies from medical conditions. Pets might have become a trend with cute “petfluencers” taking over the internet by storm. From cute doggies and cats amassing millions of likes, comments and shares, these “petfluencers” sure do make a lot of money. Rightfully so because they are cute and they deserve it.

Availability of pet products and veterinary care

Bengaluru due to urbanization and development has seen easier access to pet essentials, pet food and veterinary doctors thereby providing a conducive environment and encouraging people to own more pets. Nowadays there are several grocery delivery apps as well catering to the needs of our furry companions . For example, Zepto and Blinkit if you want to name a few. There has been a significant increase in the number of veterinary doctors as well to keep the health and wellness of our fur babies in check. According to Bangalore mirror there are 101 vet clinics in the city and 103 vet clinics in Bangalore rural district [source- Bangalore Mirror].

Conclusion

In addition to all these possible reasons, Bengaluru is probably the most pet friendly city in all of India. When it comes to pet friendliness Bengaluru beats the competition and emerges as the top choice for pet parents in India. Bengaluru has an abundance of lush green parks suitable for playing fetch and other games with your pet as well as several other pet friendly spots making it perfect for pet parents. This welcoming nature of Bengaluru is another reason for the increase in the number of pets here.

So there it is, these are some of the reasons why there have been a significant increase in pets in Bengaluru and all over India. What do you think? By the way do you want to know the best pet friendly restaurants and locations in Bengaluru to have a nice time out with your pet? Then check out our post on “Pet friendly hotels and tourist places in Bengaluru”? You can find the link at the bottom of this page. Thank you for reading!!