29 January,2011 06:57 AM IST | | Soma Das
Whether your dog has a Spiderman fetish, your feline needs her privacy to do her business, or your African Grey Parrot frets for a jungle essence shampoo, Pet Story will answer all your pet-time prayers
When two-year-old labrador Sumo visits Pet Story, his reaction is akin to that of an excited child in an amusement park. He stands on his hind legs, sniffs greedily at the sausages, pesters his guardian to glance at the special sofas and at the doggie suits, jackets and collars that have caught his fancy.
Scenes like these are common whenever a pet drops by the two-month-old Bandra shop and owners Kay and Victor D'Lima are familiar with such sights. After all, this is their second store in the area (the first is Pet Planet near Rizvi College, Bandra, which was set up six months ago). The D'Limas are no strangers to petsu00a0-- they own a semi-visually impaired cat, a French Bulldog and an African Grey Parrot.
Dog house
The husband-wife duo started their first shop when they faced difficulties while searching for the right kind of food for their choosy cat. While Kay quit her job as a voice and accent trainer, Victor juggles between the store and a regular job with a telecom company.
"Though our first store developed a clientele of its own, people wanted a shop that was accessible and hence, we set up Pet Story at Pali Naka," explains Kay. The store's USP, she adds, is that they offer products for all kinds of animals, be it cats and dogs or birds, fishes, turtles, hamsters and rabbits.
Victor insists the store is a networking hub for pets and pet owners. "Pet owners drop by to share the latest anecdotes about their pets. We love that part of the job as we are here to listen and provide helpful tips, and that's how the name Pet Story emerged," says Victor.
Dog collars
Most of the products are imported from Europe, USA, South Africa and Bangkok. The shop is divided into several sections and is bound to make pet owners green with envy.
The food section includes a variety of pet food brands including treats like chicken-filled bones, vanilla flavoured chewy sticks and even mouth fresheners. We loved the baby formula for young birds that is packed with nutrients and has to be hand-fed to them.
The toy section is choc-a-bloc with mouse-shaped toys for cats, bird toys to sharpen avian beaks as well as guinea pig balls that monitor their exercise routines. They also have cat tunnels where cats can roamu00a0 freely and chase their own tails as well as special cathouses where they can play ball and scratch the house's furry surface.
Fashion-conscious pets will go crazy in the apparel and accessories section where Spiderman tops, colourful dungarees, denim jackets and collars vie for attention alongside frilly dresses with bows and
ribbons.
Apart from this, you can choose from paw mats for dogs, jungle essence shampoos for birds, deodorants for dogs and cats, foldable animal cages and pet timers that monitor your pet's food intake. Cats love their privacy, so on sale are private loos with a flap door that will shut on its own allowing the cat to enter and do its business in peace.
Barely in its third week, the shop has developed a fan following that includes celeb pet owners like Bharat Dabholkar and Roop Kumar Rathod. This sure promises to be a long-playing Pet Story.
At Pet Story, Pali Naka, Bandra (W).
Timing 10 am to 10 pm
Call 9920898813
Cost Rs 70 to Rs 1,500 for leashes, Rs 35 to Rs 5,000 for pet food, Rs 30 to Rs 1,000 for animal hair and body care products. Delivery is free in Bandra and other select areas.
Other pet shops across mumbai
Ebrahim & Sons The Pet Shop
At: Kwality House, Sitaram Patkar Marg, Hughes Road, Kemps Corner.
Call: 23806278
Pets, Pets and Pets
At: C/7, Chouhan Avenue, opposite Galaxy Heights, Link Road, Goregaon (West).
Call: 3266811
Petrange
At: Shop No 4, Saroj Building, near Nanavati Hospital, Vallabh Bhai Patel Road, Vile Parle (West).
Call: 67305365
