I left the corporate sector to take care of my dog, Vladimir Stitchkoff who suffered from epilepsy and was unable to get a prognosis. I began my own research to help him and discovered the benefits of proper nutrition. In 2016, I started up to sell dog food to help pet parents and set up an income stream for myself. My thirst for knowledge has driven me to complete courses on topics such as nutrition, cognition and herbalism and stay updated by reading the latest scientific studies. Today, Georgina's Kitchen makes customised meal plans, provides meal subscriptions, freeze-dried dog & cat chews, treats and gut health products. Also a part of the profits and products of Georgina’s Kitchen are regularly donated to the NGOs for the betterment of the community dogs

Once I began, the sheer number of people reaching out for nutritional guidance was amazing, at times waiting upto 30 days for a consultation! In 2020, we launched a website with a paid consultation service and in 2021 I built an amazing team that helps me manage it all. Seeing pets in better health motivates me to continue this work and to make nutritional information and products available more freely.

I’m best described as fearless. It has been a lonely road reaching here since there aren’t many in this field, but that did not stop me. I tend not to worry too much but put my head down and go headlong into my work. I’m not afraid of learning and unlearning - sometimes I’m right and sometimes I’m not! I may not win everytime, but I won’t stop trying.

Be real and be you! Give everything you try your best. You needn’t rise at the cost of someone else and in the pet space we’re all working towards the betterment of our four leggeds. If you are passionate about animals, this is a wonderful space to make your passion your profession. Do not be limited by what might be ‘in’ at the moment but persevere and above all, remember that you’re in this for the animals.

Contributors: Concept and Photography. - Rohit Agarwal | Story Writing - Tanmay | Social Media - Shivani Sood | Guiding - Shruthi Bopaiah

I have loved animals all my life but didn’t have an opportunity to serve them until 1994 when Ms Crystal Rogers, a founding trustee of CUPA, inspired me to join them. Animal welfare soon became my sole focus and I gave up my job as an income tax officer. After 17 years at CUPA, I branched out and founded Charlie’s Animal Rescue Centre (CARE).

I went all in to set up CARE and even sold my apartment to stabilise it. From there, CARE has grown to become a state of the art rescue and treatment centre helping over 200 sick, abandoned and injured animals per month. We also facilitate adoptions, volunteering, tactical rescue (CARE force) and an animal cruelty prevention wing. CARE has been recognised by the Namma Bengaluru Foundation and Karnataka Nair Service Society. I have received a special women’s Achiever Award from the Mrs Karnataka Franchise.

I want to see a better world for animals where they get the rights they deserve. Although seeing their plight inspired me to dedicate myself towards their cause, these animals are my inspiration - their resilience despite their suffering gives me strength to do this day after day. My family, co-trustees, staff and friends are huge pillars of support in creating a better space for animals.

Hardwork has got me where I am and it has no substitute. It’s been an arduous journey working for the cause of animals. Often frustrating, defeating and sad but at other times truly awe-inspiring. Hardwork helped me hang in there even when the going was horribly tough.

One message, albeit cliched, that I want to pass on is of kindness. It costs nothing to be kind to the animals and people around you and only makes the world a better place. Animal welfare and the pet industry has a lot of innovative ideas just waiting to be grabbed and I would encourage young women to take these up and let nothing stop you from doing what you love for animals!

Contributors: Concept and Photography. - Rohit Agarwal | Story Writing - Tanmay | Social Media - Shivani Sood | Guiding - Shruthi Bopaiah

Change is truly one of the few constants in my life. I was born and brought up in Kerala but have called Bangalore home since 2001. I pursued a degree in civil engineering but made a profession in software engineering and now am a full time baker and proprietor of Dumas Bakes and Meals since 2016. I’m a recipient of the Pet Fed award for Most Popular Baker and have been featured in many media outlets including Femina. I also actively work on the feeding, sterilisation and vaccination initiatives for community dogs around me. I am so glad to see where Dumas bakes has reached today as it also allows me to feed 500 dogs on a regular basis

My first dog, Buddy, was a very fussy eater and it was a constant struggle cooking the kind of food he would eat. The upside from this experience was that I picked up on my baking skills. As I balanced my corporate job and welfare activities, I’d often wonder why there was no service that would provide fresh, home cooked meals to folks like me! I decided to make this a reality by starting up and began with pet meals and slowly graduated to include treats, celebration and specialty foods. Animal welfare and caring for street dogs is very dear to me and today, my venture helps me fund those activities and gives me enough time to do so.

I strongly believe in persistence for change. Any undertaking needs a strong level of commitment in order to see real results. Persistence is the key that unlocks the doors of success!

This women’s day, I want to remind young girls that your dreams are yours and yours alone - don’t let anyone try to spoil them. Stand up for yourselves and keep striving for progress. It may be slow and hard, but keep persisting and there is no stopping you!

Contributors: Concept and Photography. - Rohit Agarwal | Story Writing - Tanmay | Social Media - Shivani Sood | Guiding - Shruthi Bopaiah

A love for animals was instilled in me early on as I grew up in a household that had animals and strongly believed in respect for all living creatures. Because animals have always been a central part of my life, I began doing the best I could to help them, be it food, shelter or medical aid.

My canine child, Candy, was a huge inspiration in my work to help streeties. She would always find and make friends with stray dogs and cats in the neighbourhood and of course, I was left very moved by their plight. I began with feeding just one dog outside my home and gave him shelter when it rained. But slowly, this became almost 300 dogs who now get food thrice a week and are all sterilised and vaccinated. My work has received felicitation from the AAP for Covid Heroes for my streetie feeding initiative (LukeNStories) and CJ memorial Community Guardian award. I dream that one day, every community will have its own responsible rescuers and feeders so that every animal in distress will receive timely help. I have been lucky to be guided and inspired by several outstanding individuals in this field such as Sudha Narayanan (CARE), Sandhya Madappa (CUPA) and Girish Anjanappa to name a few.

Kindness is the biggest motivator I have that allows me to serve these dogs day in and day out. My small acts of helping them receive immeasurable and outsized love in return for the food that I give them. This is the purest love that one can find and I am enslaved to it.

To make a difference, you needn’t do big things, but you can certainly do small things with big love! Small acts of kindness will create a ripple effect of great change. Make kindness a habit and you’ll be doing great work.

Although I finished my post graduation and PhD in veterinary medicine in 2014, I’ve been in the pet care space since 2007. My sustained interest, ambition and love towards animals motivated me to help provide quality healthcare for our speechless yet loving companions. At present, I work as a small animal practitioner in Bangalore.

Growing up, I was very moved by the lack of proper veterinary care available to pets and animals in and around my neighbourhood. I wanted to fix this and was inspired to take veterinary medicine as a profession to provide the best healthcare and alleviate the suffering of pets. I am immensely grateful to Dr C Ansar Kamran who has been my mentor and guide.

Seeing an animal make a complete recovery from illness and pain and reverting to their bright and active selves is the biggest satisfaction that I get from my work and I am determined to help as many pets as possible and provide my services for as long as I can. 

One trait that I have developed and which keeps me going is patience. It is especially needed in my field not only when dealing with difficult pets, but more often when dealing with new pet parents too!

Ambition, balance, compassion and determination - if you use these four characteristics, in a smart and sustained manner I can assure you that there is nothing more satisfying than this profession.

Contributors: Concept and Photography. - Rohit Agarwal | Story Writing - Tanmay | Social Media - Shivani Sood | Guiding - Shruthi Bopaiah

I’m an artist chasing a creative pursuit through my love for grooming dogs and driven by sheer passion. I help pet parents understand their dog’s needs in terms of grooming, styling and care and guide them to connect better with their pets. I attempt to debunk myths around grooming using facts and science. My endeavour remains to groom dogs safely, using the best products coupled with an ethical and positive approach. My accolades and recognition come from the trust and loyalty of my customers and their firm belief that their dogs are in the best hands. As a minor contribution from my end, I also feed and care for 120 community dogs and work on their rescue and sterilisation initiatives in my capacity

Making every dog I work with happy and excited is the fuel that keeps me going everyday. The key focus is that grooming isn’t a luxury but a necessity adding to overall hygiene and needs to be done the right way. I aim to further this agenda through my dog grooming academy. I train young men and women to become professional groomers and emphasize on safe, ethical and effective pet grooming. Through this initiative I want to make a collective of skilled and passionate groomers so that pet parents have the best options available to them.

In my heart I am an artist. I treat every groom as an opportunity to create art in addition to the primary well-being of the dog. I live and breathe this every day. I never lose a chance to continuously improve and upgrade myself through formal study, certifications, peer engagement, videos, seminars and webinars. Practice is key – it strengthens the passion and the resolve to thrive.

Be fearless, back yourself, believe in your dreams and go for it – take the leap!  Be sincere, remain committed and continuously learn and adapt. Inspire, encourage and uplift others at every opportunity and the best version of who you are is bound to emerge!

Contributors: Concept and Photography. - Rohit Agarwal | Story Writing - Tanmay | Social Media - Shivani Sood | Guiding - Shruthi Bopaiah