In the quiet and secluded district of Gawadewadi on the outskirts of Pune, in the middle of a large empty lot, there is a home behind locked black gates where one hears the constant sound of barking dogs. From the main gate, when one passes through a corridor equipped with CCTV cameras and an ambulance and enters the house, several dogs, full of energy, jump and bark to be welcomed. It doesn’t take long to look beyond the acceptable and see that one of them has violent symptoms on the body from an acid attack or that another has a bump on the head that indicates a brain tumor. However, their tails are moving.
There are 80 such dogs and 18 cats living, recovering and being rehabilitated at Sunil’s Pet Home, a shelter for cats and dogs. (Exhibit photo by Pavan Khengre, 19.10.24, Pune.)
There are 80 such dogs and 18 cats living, recovering and being brought back to life at Sunil’s Pet Home, a shelter for cats and dogs. Sunil Tirlotkar, 46, takes care of the lost and provides them with two meals a day and a weekly bath for Rs 200 a day, which is paid for by those who choose to sponsor a pet. Tirlotkar says, “Most of those dogs and cats are rescued by animal lovers who find them in unsafe conditions in their communities and hence bring them here for safety and care”. Pointing to the black spots on the body of a dog named Buddy, Tirlotkar says, “Buddy was in Lucknow when he was attacked with acid. Someone who had been there on a business trip saw this distressed dog and sent it here by air.” Some cats also ended up in shelters during the shutdown due to their owners’ work-at-home concerns.
Tirlotkar has been working and engaging with animals for a better life since the age of 16. (Descriptive Photo by Pavan Khengre, 19.10.24,Pune.)
Although Tirlotkar only takes in pets whose owners are willing to sponsor, he says, “Many times, people bring their pets here and assure me that they will pay for the animal every month, but they disappear after the first few payments. In such cases, I rely on other sponsors to support the place.”
With so many pets and their different ailments, Tirlotkar’s job becomes a challenge to provide everyone with their medicine on time. But to do well, he has made this place his home and does all the work with the help of his wife and three employees. “All dogs deserve special individual care. Some are hesitant to take medication, so we spend time with them and understand. Some like to take their medicine and dog food while others prefer to eat meat. Likewise, we ensure that they receive their doses,” he said. He says he uses the same strategy for their food. “Whenever we bring in a new animal, we give it a lot of time and attention. We sit and spend time with them, to understand their needs better. As with people, it helps to have a safe, clean and supportive environment for a quick recovery,” said Tirlotkar.
With so many pets and their different ailments, Tirlotkar’s job becomes a challenge to provide everyone with their medicine on time. (Exhibit photo by Pavan Khengre, 19.10.24, Pune.)
It feels true after watching the cat at home, its face with a perpetual expression of fear. He moved cautiously, taking up as little space as possible, as if hiding from the people around him. Tirlotkar said, “Someone hit him and he was scared ever since. When he was new here, he used to be fixed in one corner and not move from there. However, after a while, he felt ready to go slowly and stay in a cool place now”. Another dog at home was brought in with a brain tumor. “The doctors had warned me that he would not survive for three months. But he has been here for eight months,” said Tirlotkar.
A cat rescued from Tirlotkar’s home. (Exhibit photo by Pavan Khengre, 19.10.24, Pune.)
Although the center was started in 2018, Tirlotkar has been working and interacting with animals for better health since the age of 16. He remembers seeing his parents and grandparents taking care of lost animals and that influenced him. Tirlotkar dropped out of school after class 10 and has no formal education in animal science. But he says he has learned how to care for dogs, understand their behavior and befriend them through practical experience. Veterinarians visit if needed.
Tirlotkar is working on setting up special care rooms, a dog pool and a guest house for their owners at the facility. (Exhibit photo by Pavan Khengre, 19.10.24, Pune.)
Tirlotkar is working on setting up special care rooms, a dog pool and a guest house for their owners at the facility. There are dogs that have lost their legs in accidents, some are blind, some are crippled, some are old, some have a sore throat.
“What I am trying to do is to give them a comfortable place with love, so that their last days on this earth are well spent,” said Tirlotkar. Although Tirlotkar’s aim is to increase the health of all the pets under his care, he has planned a cremation ground for them when it is time to say goodbye to them.
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