Pandemic end days are almost here, and we can once again look forward to travelling internationally. For many people, the end of the pandemic means they can once again kickstart those plans they abandoned in 2020, and that includes travelling abroad.

We are still living in a pandemic world, but travel restrictions are very slowly easing up. As vaccines roll out across the globe, there looks like there will finally be an end point to this pandemic. And that means that a lot of plans we kept on hold in 2020 are coming back to life.

Holi’s here! It is a day of colour, hot jalebis, water balloons, sneaking around the building trying to ambush your friends and family, and just one of the most celebrated festivals of the year. Should your pet miss out on all the fun? Of course not! But your pet is not the same as you and cannot celebrate in the same way. Holi is a day that is packed with a lot of danger for your pet, and you need to make sure they are healthy and safe. We’re here to talk you through the steps.

Welcome to Part III of Animal Behaviour Essentials! In Part I, we covered the various vocal sounds your dog might make and what they could mean. In Part II, we tackled understanding the tail, and the various ways in which dogs use their tail to tell you what they are thinking. Part III will handle exactly what it promises: “everything else”. So that’s those aspects of a dog’s body language you may not have thought of or may not know how to interpret.

Welcome to our second part of Animal Behaviour Essentials! In Part I, we talked a bit about dog vocal sounds, where we covered what your dog is telling you based on the sounds they make. We also pointed out that guessing what those sounds mean is pretty instinctive, so don’t worry if you are new to being a pet parent. You’ve got this!

We all love our pets so much, it can be difficult to remember they are a different species from us—they seem so much like our best friends, we’re certain we understand their every need and want. But what exactly is your pet saying to you?

Animal shelters are an integral part of the pet landscape in India. Often NGOs and run by avid animal lovers, these shelters form crucial points of contact in the city. For instance:

Today’s blog is difficult to write, but it’s a topic that needs to be talked about. Ever since the beginning of COVID, there have been an increasing number of dogs being abandoned. Owners drive out, leave their dogs on the road, and then never come back to pick them up. This isn’t just a pandemic phenomenon, of course; it has happened long before coronavirus ever struck us. The internet is full of stories of dogs chained to street corners or wandering forlorn along roads, looking for their pet parents who have no intention of returning.

It’s 2021! A new year, and a perfect time for a new start. Looking to make a change? Get a new haircut or move cities, or even just buy that lamp you’ve put in your Amazon cart for ages and that you can’t justify buying? Do it! And if you’re looking to bring every lasting love and joy in your life, then it’s time to get a dog.

2020 has been a challenging year for all of us. We’ve had to grapple with uncertainty in many aspects of our lives, and many of us have dealt with loneliness and anxiety. For pet parents, our pets have been the saving grace through all this. They have been our light and joy, and reminded us of how much love there is in the world. But coronavirus has affected them too; their routines were disrupted, their usual walking routes restricted, and their humans were far more anxious and stressed than usual—and pets pick up on that. 2020 has been a strange year for them too.