Animal activists have long promoted the adoption of dogs rather than purchasing them. Pet adoption is, however, not a decision to be made lightly or hastily. Pawasana, a Delhi-based initiative by Annanya Nautiyal and Anwar Khan, will help you make that decision and with a twist.
This Saturday, Pawasana will host a ‘Paint with Puppies’ workshop in Pune that bring art and pet lovers together with an aim to provide permanent homes for indigenous puppies from shelters and non-profit organisations in and around Pune in an inclusive atmosphere with peaceful cohabitation.
Established in November 2021, Pawasana is a platform that establishes a bond between puppies and their prospective pet parents before the latter commit to the idea of adoption. The organisation’s goal is to make India a more animal-friendly country and raise awareness about the unethical breeding of foreign breeds while promoting adopting indigenous puppies. Currently, the organisation is active in 13 major cities in India and is expanding.
“We have been rescuing dogs for years. Over the years, we realised the difficulty in finding homes for indie dogs, and that is how Pawasana was born,” Nautiyal Khan said.
“We collaborate with non-governmental organisations that are involved in animal rescues. We also share a portion of revenues from the sale of workshop tickets,” Khan.
As the name implies, the main component of the initiative is a series of “one-of-a-kind” painting sessions starring indigenous puppies.
Charuhas Mistry, event manager for Pawasana’s Pune chapter, said, “A typical session accommodates an average of 20-25 attendees. Participants are given the art equipment. We ensure there are six to seven Indie puppies present, each receiving much-needed love from attendees. Furthermore, these workshops act as an educational platform, informing people about Indie dogs. The puppies are vaccinated and our dedicated volunteers carefully monitor their treatment and care during the sessions.”
For Saturday’s event, the puppies will be brought to the venue by SAW Charitable Trust, a Pune-based NGO involved in dog rescues.
“We ensure everyone in the family is onboard with the idea of adopting to minimise the chances of abandonment. We also conduct follow-ups in the first few months after the adoption to ensure the pet’s well-being,” Nautiyal said.
“Participants can either take the paintings home or donate them to SAW. “The two-hour session will be therapeutic and stimulating for both species,” said Charuhas Mistry, manager of Pawasana’s Pune chapter.
From wagging tails to brush stroking, Pune residents should get ready to be greeted by four-legged friends at the workshop to be held at Hoomans All Day Bar, Baner 4 to 6 pm on April 7.
