Behind The Scenes Of India's Pet Fiesta
Akshay Gupta, Founder, Pet Fed shares the journey and evolution of this initiative. From its inception in 2014 to becoming a vibrant community celebrating pet parenthood, Akshay elucidates on the inspiration behind Pet Fed and its transformative impact on pet welfare and responsible ownership. Learn how Pet Fed's expansion to six major cities across India fosters connections, educates and advocates for pets and their owners nationwide, while also adapting to regional preferences and cultural nuances.
Excerpts:
Can you share the inspiration behind organising Pet Fed and how it has evolved over the years?
I started Pet Fed in 2014 when I realised that there is an event for every liking of a human being in the country whether it is food, fashion, art or music but there was nothing for people who had pets and pets themselves. That’s when I thought to create a space only for the pet community where we focussed on pet parents and their furry friends who could come together, learn and engage. Since our first Pet Fed, we've grown into a vibrant community, fostering awareness and understanding of pet parenting. The events provide a platform for pet lovers to connect, interact and learn from each other, celebrating the joy of pet parenthood.
With Pet Fed expanding to six major cities across India, how do you envision the festival fostering the bond between pets and their owners nationally?
We are proud that we are now able to expand our festivals from three metropolitan cities, namely Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru in addition to express cities, namely Pune, Chandigarh and Hyderabad. We are paving the way to make our Pet Fed Festival in other states too. We understand the need for a pet community where you can share and discuss the challenges you face while fostering or adopting a pet. It is not an easy task to adopt and care about the animals. There are many places where there is no proper healthcare and education about pets and pet takers and it is necessary to create a sense of community, belongingness and a safe environment among the people. Expanding Pet Fed to three major cities across India holds great promise for strengthening the bond between pets and their owners nationwide. By reaching out to more cities, Pet Fed will reach a broader audience, raising awareness about responsible pet ownership, proper care and the importance of the human-animal bond. Through increased awareness, community building, education, socialisation opportunities, fun activities, access to products and services and advocacy efforts, the festival creates a supportive environment for pet parents to connect, learn and celebrate their companions.
Each city seems to have a unique venue for Pet Fed. How do you go about selecting these locations and what factors contribute to the decision-making process?
We agree that these venues have distinctive features and facilities that make the choice of our venue accessible. We ensure that whatever locations we opt for should be accessible, feasible and convenient for all visitors while travelling to our festival. Through our research and development, we focus on ensuring that the place we choose is easily known to everyone and has good reviews so that we are assured that the location is safe, secure and trustworthy to our pets and pet lovers. Selecting unique venues for Pet Fed in each city involves considering factors like accessibility, space, pet-friendly facilities, flexibility, locality, logistics and budget. The goal is to ensure the venue can accommodate the festival’s needs while providing a welcoming atmosphere for attendees and their pets.
What makes the recent Pune edition of Pet Fed stand out from other editions of the festival?
The Pet Fed Express Pune festival happened at Nexus Westend Mall, Aundh and the reason behind choosing this location as our prime venue for the festival is because the place offers a range of facilities such as accessible facilities, spacious grounds, parking facilities, a mall that has everything under a single roof. Being a popular shopping destination in Pune, Nexus Westend Mall also ensures high foot traffic and visibility for the event, creating curiosity and attracting a diverse audience of pet parents and enthusiasts. From interactive games to engaging activities, agility courses and fun competitions, there was something for every pet lover to enjoy. Moreover, visitors could make the most of networking opportunities, meeting fellow pet pals and celebrating their shared love for animals in a lively and inclusive atmosphere.
With over 100 stalls, workshops and activities, how do you curate the content and experiences to ensure a diverse and engaging atmosphere for both pets and their owners?
Our team does deep research and analysis of our program and sets certain protocols. We achieve this by incorporating a wide range of facilities that cater to pets' and their parents' different interests, preferences and needs. This may include a variety of pet-related stalls featuring products such as food, friendly stuff toys, accessories, merchandise and services like grooming and talks. Workshops and demonstrations can cover topics like pet care, training techniques, health and wellness and even pet-friendly activities like agility skills or games like temptation alley, trick relay, hop skip and jump among more. Additionally, interactive contests such as ‘Pet’s Got Talent’, fashion shows and photo booths add fun and excitement to the festival. It's important to ensure inclusivity by welcoming pets of all breeds and sizes, while also providing facilities like water stations, medical assistance and waste disposal facilities like poop bags and dustbins. By curating a diverse array of content and experiences, the team creates an inclusive and engaging atmosphere that appeals to both pets and their owners, fostering a sense of community and enjoyment for all visitors.
Can you highlight some of the key activities or attractions that attendees can look forward to at the Pune Express edition of Pet Fed?
The key highlights of our Pet Fed Pune Express Edition were engaging games such as ‘Play Zones’ for our pets and interactive stage games like ‘Temptation Alley’, ‘Musical Mutts’, ‘Trick Relay’ and ‘Feed the Dog’; on day two we have ‘Pet’s Got Talent’ and a fashion show. These are the most awaited parts of our events and a highlight of the festival, popularly known in Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru.
How has Pet Fed contributed to raising awareness about pet welfare and responsible pet ownership and are there any initiatives or campaigns associated with the festival in this regard?
The Pet Fed festival is all about coming together and creating, promoting and raising awareness about the pet community, welfare and responsible pet ownership among people through various initiatives and campaigns associated with the festival. In the past, we have done adoption camps and masterclasses in Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru and there were significant positive results in these cities. In the past, we have seen over 15 adoptions that have taken place in these festivals. In addition to this, masterclasses have helped a lot in providing helpful topics like grooming, pet health, pet nutrition, DIY art for pets like macrame and much more. The pet not only needs fostering and shelter but also needs companionship, proper health check-ups and time-to-time vaccinations. The event serves as a platform for pet-related programs such as games and activities, for experts and exhibitors to educate visitors about pet care, health and welfare through activities and performances. Collaborations with NGOs like animal organisations promote pet adoption and fostering opportunities, emphasising the importance of responsible pet ownership. Additionally, Pet Fed utilises its online presence in the digital world of social media platforms to spread awareness, advocate pet welfare and engage with the online audience. Overall, Pet Fed's commitment to promoting pet welfare and responsible pet ownership has made it a valuable contributor to the pet care industry in India.
In what ways has the pet industry and community responded to Pet Fed and have you seen any positive impacts or trends emerging as a result of the festival?
The pet industry and community have responded positively to Pet Fed, with notable impacts and trends emerging as a result of the festival. One significant response is the increased visibility and promotion of adoption and empathy towards Indie and other pets. Additionally, the festival has gained networking opportunities and collaborations within the pet industry, leading to the growth of partnerships and innovations in pet care, training and wellness. Also, businesses helping Pet Fed as a platform to showcase their offerings to a targeted audience of pet owners. Moreover, Pet Fed has played a pivotal role in fostering a sense of community among pet parents, providing a platform for them to come together, share experiences and celebrate their love for animals. In the past, adoption camps especially for Indie pets have created a major impact on our festival, creating more awareness and empathy towards street animals. Masterclasses have impacted more people when it comes to in-depth care of pets’ health and nutrition, maintenance of the pets like grooming and hygiene and DIY activities for pets have created a special interest among the pet enthusiasts and are keen to look forward to such sessions, workshops and classes. This sense of comradeship has contributed to the normalisation of pet ownership and the promotion of responsible pet care practices. Overall, Pet Fed has a positive impact on the pet industry and community by raising awareness, attracting engagement and creating collaboration, resulting in enriching the lives of pets and their parents simultaneously.
With multiple editions across the country, how do you adapt the festival to suit the cultural and regional preferences of each location?
Adapting a festival to suit the cultural and regional preferences of each location involves meticulous and in-depth research, collaboration and customisation. Our team thoroughly understands the local customs, climate, preferences and interests of each region, partnering with local organisations and city coordinators to gain insights and plan accordingly. Planning the festival event schedule to feature sponsors, experts, celebrities and influencers, cuisines and traditions, while offering flexibility in format and communication in the local language, ensures inclusivity and resonates with the target audience. Cultural sensitivity is the most important factor, continuous feedback collection and adaptation help filter and improve the festival experience while maintaining a consistent core identity across all editions, ensuring a memorable and engaging event that celebrates the diversity of communities nationwide.
