Increasingly, apartment living is becoming the trend in India with many couples and families opting to have a flat. This usually means that they are unable to have a bigger pet like a dog or a cat due to the cramped space and limited opportunity for the pet to move around. But it can be done, according to many vets and owners.
“We decided to get a dog even though many people told us that it would be difficult in a flat,” says student Matthew K. However, he adds that he was reassured by his vet that it shouldn’t be too much of a problem. Dr Narendra, a vet, agrees, “It should not be difficult. Pets will thrive in apartments as long as they are ensured enough activity.
Businesswoman Meenakshi Shenoy says that they ensure their labrador, Ponchy, gets enough exercise. “We take him for his walks thrice a day and have given him enough space within the apartment to move around in.”
Dr Hemanth, also a vet says that most people who decide to get a pet should consider the requirements of the animal. “Some animals like cats are more suited to apartment living and I have observed an increased number of people opting to have a cat because of this.” He says that hamsters and some mice can adapt to apartments but one has to be more discerning with dogs. “I would suggest getting smaller breeds like pugs, maltesers and pomeranians because they have less energy and need less activity. On the other hand, avoid breeds like dobermans and boxers,” he adds.
Meenakshi says that her family has worked out a way to manage a pet in an apartment by co-ordinating their schedules. “We never go out for more than three days at a time and we send him to a kennel. We also have a dog-walker, when we can’t walk him ourselves. During the day, we also arrange to be away around his schedule and for no longer than 4-5 hours,” she says.
Matthew agrees, “We always try to have at least one person at home but when not possible, we get our neighbours to help.” Matthew concedes that they are lucky as they have supportive neighbours, which is not always the case. Meenakshi says, “When we first decided to get Ponchy, our neighbours were skeptical but they soon became supportive.”
Dr Narendra says that there are some issues that ought to be considered before bringing a pet into an apartment. “Pet dogs shed hair and produce a strong odour at times. They should also be house-trained. Some pets can also be very noisy which neighbours will not appreciate.” But Matthew says, “If you can make some space in your apartment and plan for all eventualities, there should be no problem in having a pet in an apartment.