Sri Vijaya Puram, Dec. 29: The Department of Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Services (AH&VS) brought sheer joy and meaningful awareness to the ongoing Island Tourism Festival 2025 by organising a spectacular Pet Show yesterday at the ITF Ground. The event witnessed an overwhelming turnout with hundreds of residents, families, children, tourists and passionate animal lovers thronging the venue to celebrate the unbreakable bond between humans and their furry companions.
The show was inaugurated by the guest of honour, Ms Pallavi Sarkar, IAS, Secretary (AH&VS). The event began with an impressive demonstration by the highly trained dogs of the A&N Police Department and Forest Department, showcasing their discipline, obedience and remarkable skills in detection and protection duties. The audience erupted in applause as these four-legged heroes performed flawlessly, highlighting the vital role well-trained dogs play in public safety and conservation efforts across the islands.
A total of 55 delightful pets then took centre stage across four categories, showcasing incredible diversity and charm. The large breed segment featured 26 magnificent participants including Labrador, German Shepherd, Chippiparai, Golden Retriever, Siberian Husky, American Bully and Dogo Argentino, while the small breed category charmed everyone with 17 adorable entries such as Indian Spitz, Pomeranian, Shih Tzu and Lhasa Apso. Adding immense heart to the show were six lovable local mongrel (desi) dogs and six elegant cats, whose natural grace and affectionate nature won thunderous applause and reminded everyone that true companionship needs no pedigree.
The pets were judged by a distinguished panel comprising Dr. Amal Kanti Rai, Retd. Senior Veterinary Officer; Dr. K Geeta Gladson, Veterinary Officer at Friendicoes-SECA NGO; and Dr. K P Ummer, Retd. Senior Veterinary Officer.
After meticulous judging based on health, temperament, grooming and overall personality, prizes were distributed by Ms Pallavi Sarkar, IAS, Secretary (AH&VS), Smti Niharika Bhatt, IPS, Superintendent of Police (South Andaman District), Dr. Jai Sunder, Director, ICAR-Central Island Agricultural Research Institute (CIARI), and Dr. A K Bardhan, Retd. Senior Veterinary Officer. Amid great excitement, the top honours in the large breed category went to Har Ram (1st), A Ramu (2nd) and Dr. Dinesh (3rd). The small breed winners were Surajit Datta (1st), Dr. Anuradha Norkar (2nd) and Asutosh Verma (3rd). The mongrel breed category saw M Prajith Kumar (1st), Sanjita Bai (2nd) and Kartikeya (3rd) emerge victorious, while the cat category was clinched by Zohra (1st), Niharika (2nd) and Tanuja (3rd).
Beyond the glamour and excitement, the Pet Show carried a powerful social message aligned with the Department’s ongoing campaigns. It strongly advocated regular anti-rabies vaccination, compulsory sterilization under the Animal Birth Control (ABC) programme, and humane treatment of all animals. Particular emphasis was placed on adopting sturdy, intelligent and climate-adapted Indian and mongrel breeds instead of purchasing expensive foreign varieties and later abandoning unwanted litters. These desi dogs, often overlooked, make exceptional companions and deserve loving homes just as much as any purebred.
The Department of Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Services has once again appealed to all residents and visitors to adopt homeless animals from streets or shelters, sterilise and vaccinate their pets without fail, and join hands in building a truly compassionate, rabies-free and harmonious environment for every living being in these pristine Islands.