Popular actor and model Tanuj Virwani inherited his love for pooches from his parents and counts them as his extended family. Text: Team Buddy Life
Were you raised in a family which appreciated and adored animals? Have you always had a canine companion at home?
Yes I have been raised in a family that has always appreciated and adored animals. We have been pet owners all our lives. My mom had 9-10 dogs when she was in Chennai. My dad also has had many German shepherds over the years. We too have had Alsatians, Dalmatians, Labradors and many more. I think it is very normal for us to be around doggies and they have always been an extended part of our family. They give us a lot of joy and the house feels empty when we don’t have our canine companions around us.
What are your earliest memories of having dogs around?
My earliest memory would be around the time when we used to live in Juhu. My father would take me to the beach and even our Alsatian would come for a run with us. We would keep him free and we would run together. The mission was to keep up with the dog. Also, I was a little on the healthier side back then and they wanted me to lose some weight. So, this sort of playful competitiveness was really very good. I also remember he was a very naughty dog. He would bark and at the same time, sit on the lap of the guest’s at home and wag his tail. It was lovely. Also, i believe that when you grow up in an environment around animals, you become more emotionally steady. They can’t speak directly in human language apart from their barks, sounds and eyes. So, over a period of time, when you get to understand what they mean and what they speak, it overall plays a big role in shaping your character and personality.
How and when did you get your present fur baby home? Are there other pooches to keep her company?
Our first dog was an Alsatian and he was gifted to us by a family friend. We have had a history of owning race horses from my dad’s side of the family. I remember when my dad got the gift, the little Alsatian had come home in a cute, little basket wearing a bow down his neck. In those days, we only had one dog because it’s a full-time job and they need to be taken proper care of. However, slowly and steadily, we got the confidence to handle multiple pets and that’s when we had a Lhasa. After that, we have been on a roll and have had a lot of Labradors back to back. A lot of white Labradors and now recently, we also have a number of black Labradors.
Do you groom/ bathe your fur ball? What part do you play in grooming?
Yes of course. I believe grooming is as important as playing with them. They need to look forward to it. In our house, our dogs love getting oiled, sponged, and get their nails done. They even like going to the parlour and sometimes, the kind of 5-star, VVIP treatment that they get, even I don’t get at my home. Jokes apart, it fills your heart with so much of joy because when they are clean and fresh, even they are very happy. Their tail is constantly wagging and it’s a lot of fun. The only thing with Labradors and some of the other dogs is that they shed a lot of hair especially around summer. So, one needs to be extremely mindful of that.
Are the pooches allowed on the couch and most importantly, the bed?
In our home, our dogs are allowed anywhere and everywhere. We don’t worry about the fact that they make the sofa or bed dirty with things like mud in their paws and other stuff. In fact, I recently got married and my wife has also been a pet parent. She understands how things are but right now, she has to be very careful and hence, she’s got this vaccum cleaner at home. Every night, she’s obsessed with cleaning the bed and everything after the furry babies have left the bed. I think it’s the most beautiful feeling if you can go to bed cuddling your buddy and waking up with them in the morning. The first slurpy display of affection from them at f in the morning is so nice. Their love is pure, unconstitutional and unadulterated. In fact, human beings can sometimes be a little selfish since they have stakes attached. But the love of animals, especially dogs’ is always so pure and unadultereted always.
Where do you draw the line when it comes to pampering them?
I personally feel it is important forthe pet parent to be held accountable. For example, the pooches have a set time of going for a small loo and big loo. But sometimes, they end up urinating and pooping inside the house which they need to know is wrong. Of course, it can be understandable when they are small puppies. But as they grow, they have been trained and hence they need to know that there will be consequences. We scold them and punish them. By and large, we haven’t had much issues. Yes, sometimes during monsoon, they aren’t able to go much outdoor and hence it might become a slight issue. Also, once old age kicks in, they have less control over their bladder. However, I think that it is important that without hitting them or being brutal or mean to them, we should let them know that this is not right. They are very intuitive and they understand.
Do you play with your fur baby? What is his/her favourite game?
I think catching the ball has to be the most favourite game. I personally play a lot of cricket and hence I am always toy with cricket ball or a tennis ball. They love playing with it. We have a farmhouse at Lonavala and there’s a lot of open space there with a big garden outside. It’s nice for them because they can run around. They are all playing with each other battling for the ball and then very slowly, they drop it by you to continue playing. That would be my most fun game with them.
Have you ever taken your fur babies for vacations or picnics? If yes, how was the experience?
Well, I don’t think I have taken them to a vacation as such otherwise apart from our farmhouse. It is very convenient. It’s only 2 hours and you can easily load them into the SUV and take them. Some of our pooches also stay at the farmhouse and it was quite a thing at our wedding. We got married at our farmhouse and all the furry friends were there and they even attended the wedding. They even had their own matching bows which was nice. Luckily, we have our own house in Mumbai but it is still a flat. I feel open space is so important and nice for them so that they can be happy and gallop all over the place. I also think they need to be taken outdoor a lot because otherwise as they get older, they get very lazy. You need to keep your pet as much physically active as you can as then, he or she will be a lot more active.
Does your canine baby follow you around? Do you find it annoying or just love it?
My canine buddies don’t just follow me around but they also sit on top of me. They have this funny thing of relaxing on my chest without realising that they are now grown up and not puppies. But the moment they see me lying on the sofa or on the bed, they immediately come to me to sit on my chest. Sometimes, one is sitting on my back, one on my chest, one on my feet. So, I literally don’t need a blanket to sleep at night because I am completely covered by labradors. That’s the reality.
Other than your present pet, have you adopted or supported a rescue or homeless pup before?
Yes. Few years back, we had seen this post on Facebook of a labrador who was brutally beaten up and thrown off a scooter. My mom thought of meeting the poor kid and that’s how we took him in. You could see that he was tormented and it took him some time to get rid of his inhibitions. He would simply tremble at the sight of human beings. We tried to give the best life possible and in the process, he became a total fatty. Unfortunately, he is no more with us as we lost him last year due to old age. But, we have and I believe it’s a very noble thing to do. It doesn’t necessarily have to be a thorough-bred dog. It’s very important because every dog has got a heart of gold and they deserve the best home.
Do you see yourself as an advocate for the cause of animals? Have you ever come up for animals that need to be adopted or spoken of animal rights?
Yes, I think it’s important, especially being a celebrity. I think, a lot of people pay heed to what we say. Not just dogs, any animal so to say. I get very angry when I see certain articles or posts on social media about people just beating them up and treating them cruelly. I also think I should be doing a lot more but it’s easier said than done. I do want to associate myself with an organisation that takes care of these beautiful creatures.
What’s that one quality that makes a pup so endearing to you?
Just their pure innocence. One of my favourite doggies, is Libron and is around 9 year’s old Labrador now. However, even now, he’s such a cute goofball and it’s like he has not matured even now. It’s amazing because as human beings, the older we get and see of life, we tend to get a bit smarter. Dogs however aren’t like that. They always keep that purity and it’s a reminder for us humans. All they need is love, good food, some cuddles and they are sorted. The simple pleasures of a cannines life are nothing compared to the demands of a human.
Who looks after your pooch when you are away or he/she falls ill? Any favourite vet?
Our staff are very fond of all our furry friends and none of them is scared. That’s important for us. Someone or the other is always home. I live with my mom, dad and wife and even if I am out for shoots, someone or the other is always there at home. So, they never feel like they are alone. Very rarely, if we go during family vacations, they might feel like they are on their own. They are very intuitive. The moment they see bags and lift, they know that we are going somewhere and they become sad. Their body language, the way they see everything manage to give you a guilt trip.
There are many stray cats, dogs and cows roaming the streets. Do you think we all should consider building a shelter for these creatures in the near future?
Absolutely. I too would like to do a lot more and be affiliated with an organisation that takes care of the welfare of these animals. In a massive country like India, many strays are unfortunately not treated correctly. It’s important that as citizens of this country, we come together and do something for them. Our Constitution has laws to prevent cruelty to animals So, I most certainly believe that they should have certain shelter homes so that we can perhaps give them the best life possible.
