Srinagar residents tackle mental stress by taking care of pet animals

Srinagar residents have adopted the habit of nurturing pet animals in the wake of the pandemic. Pet lovers say that pets easily reduce stress.

Srinagar:Covid-19 pandemic has taken a toll on people's mental health. Grappling with anxiety and mental stress, people have been coming up with cope up mechanism. Such is Srinagar residents' newfound love for pets. Locals have been increasingly adopting pets viz cats, dogs, birds and other animals.

"There is a growing trend of adopting pets in the city. Persian kittens, German Shepard dog and Alexander parrots are in great demand," Mudassar Ahmed, a pet seller, told ETV Bharat. He also said that they not only provide pet animals but also advice and tips for training pets.

Dr Mudasir Qazi, a veterinary doctor at Srinagar's central animal hospital,need to attend to around 50 pets daily. "Around 50 animals are being treated at the hospital every day. Some come here for consultation and advice too. We attend not only to pets of locals but also dogs on government duty of security forces," he said.

Speaking about precautions to be taken by pet enthusiasts, he said, "Most people adopt animals without a doctor's advice. They should be careful never to bring home an animal that is still breastfeeding. These animals can suffer from various diseases due to a lack of nutrients due to the early weening of mother's milk. And secondly, these animals should have a clean and transparent environment and food at home."

A young pet owner, Arsalan, said, "Ever since we got a pet cat at our house, stress-reduced automatically. Everyone at home gets engaged with it and time passes comfortably." "Keeping pets at home is a good thing and beneficial, but you just have to take care of them wisely," he said.