5 Fantastic Pets in Dhaka and where to get them

People always find an outlet to shower their love and affection on something or someone; its just the way human emotions work. Not many will disagree with this, but a pet is just the perfect subject for smothering with such kind of tenderness that is only found in humans. So for those who haven’t had the sheer joy of handling a cute little pet at home, here is a list of a few kinds of pets that you can opt to buy this summer. 1. DOGS Dogs are fantastic animals. It is common knowledge that they are loyal creatures who can really learn to love their masters. Now who wouldn’t want that right? The strangely happiness-inducing sight of an enthusiastic canine wagging its tail or jumping mirthfully over its master is something that evokes the most warm feelings in anyone watching it. So quite naturally, a dog is the most suitable pet out there that ticks all the boxes for any requirements that one can possibly have from a pet, be it loyalty or anything else. There are numerous pet stores out there in Dhaka, but unfortunately we have little to no information on how they are acquiring the dogs they sell. The most notorious of these is Katabon, and we have all heard the horror stories of how puppies of foreign breeds are torn from their mothers to be sold there, and subjected to terrible conditions and abuse. So as much as you want that beautiful pug or golden retriever, please remember that owning a foreign breed is not everything. We have all seen the equally loveable and love-hungry street dogs in every corner of this city. If you are actually serious about getting a dog and giving it the love, care and attention it requires, please seriously think about adopting a dog of our streets. You can always have a chat with animal welfare organisation Obhoyoranno about the responsibilities associated with this. If you think this might not be practical, ask around to see if any dog needs adopting in your social circles (there usually is one), and above everything else, make sure you don't condone adopting a puppy or dog that has been stolen or abused. 2. CATS If we’re talking about a once in a lifetime ‘must have’ pet out there, cats are a given. Cats are just a fur ball of cuteness that you can’t avoid smothering with delight and affection once they come near you. Also, they can’t possibly be anywhere near as dangerous as other animals, the only thing you’ll ever have to worry about if you have a cat as a pet is if they scratch you, that, I have to admit, kind of hurts. A lot. But that’s only when you piss them off big time. Except for this one small disadvantage, cats are the second most ideal pets out there. You can easily find numerous breeds of cats in Dhaka. There is also a particular Facebook page named “Cat Society”, they put up contact numbers of several people who are willing to put up their pet cats or just random homeless cats up for adoption. In the case of cats, it is even easier to adopt homeless cats out there, so please do consider doing this as well. 3. TURTLES When it comes to keeping turtles as pets, the matter is up for some debate. You might not be able to cuddle them quite as warmly as you would be able to with pets like dogs and cats, but they are adorable and unique creatures in their own special way. Also, there are actually many people who do keep turtles as pets and enjoy the company of these quiet, serene and timid creatures. However, one of the biggest problems with adopting a turtle is ensuring you do not pick a breed that is endangered in the wild. There is a lot of debate on this topic, but it is usually accepted that the smaller breeds with no markings on their underbellies are the most common ones out there, and are okay to keep as pets Again, please avoid the notorious Katabon and find other pet stores in the city that are willing to give you proper guidance and advice. There is also a turtle conservation society in Bangladesh as well, and you can knock them to help make you this decision. There are also various fish stores in Dhaka such as Nature Aquatics and Fisherman’s Cave BD, where you can easily come across such aquatic creatures. 4. RABBITS If you’re someone who strongly prefers calm and quiet but also has a thing for cute, furry and timid animals, rabbits are the most ideal pets for you. They have those insanely endearing front teeth and scamper around mirthfully all over the place - who wouldn’t fall for something as adorable as these innocent creatures? Also, the type of food that they normally tend to eat is quite cheap and easy to obtain, such as carrots, cabbages, cauliflower stocks, grasses etc. So these pets actually require very low maintenance. However, they are very delicate creatures and require constant company from their own kind, so if you do plan on buying a rabbit as a pet, it is a good idea to buy them in pairs. 5. PIGEONS I know that going with pigeons rather than birds as a whole is narrowing it down a lot, but this specific kind of bird is so different from all the other species of birds that they are worth mentioning in this list. Pigeons are majestic, loyal creatures that tend to live in groups. Its also very easy to tame them so that within a few days, they don’t even have to be caged any more, and will return to your house naturally from any place they might fly away to. Needless to say, they have such a beautiful array of colourful and vibrant feathers adorning their small figures that the sight of these creatures soaring in the sky will leave you enchanted. The maintenance cost is also quite low, however, a medium sized tin den for these birds to stay in and return to, is required. Once again, these particular species can be purchased from pet stores across the city. However, as always we must stress that a pigeon or any other pet are living creatures who deserve care and attention, so please make sure you get them from an owner or breeder who understands their requirements and helps you take those first steps into making a pet a part of your family. And most importantly, do not buy or encourage others to buy from stores that are known for animal abuse, which sadly is the case at many pet stores in our city.