Worried for your pets during Deepavali? Chennai hotels turn pet-friendly

This festive season, hotels in Chennai have opened up their premises to guests who bring their four-legged companions to escape from the inevitable noise pollution

Swapna Mathivanan has grown up around pets since she was young and knows that life can become quite hellish during Deepavali. Her two golden retrievers become especially terrified when there are incessant blasts from loud crackers.

When she was looking to build a hotel back in 2018 outside Chennai, pets being allowed on campus became non-negotiable. She wanted to create a space where they could ‘happily trot around’ especially during the festive season to prevent situations where canines would crouch and cover their ears because of the noise. Her property K resort, about 120 kilometres from Chennai, is now usually booked out during Deepavali. This alludes to a trend that can be observed in other hotels across Chennai too.

Many executives at five star properties who own pets have workshopped programmes and developed standard operating procedures to accommodate their companions this year. At these locations, pets are served gourmet meals, given separate beds and toys and even pampered with paw butter.

“The popular Fisherman’s Cove shell garland is not limited to our two-legged guests”, says Ritesh Choudhary, the general manager. This property which has hosted dogs, cats and even parrots in the past, has separate bowls, beds and toys for animals with a special care package including pet-friendly shampoos, conditioners, fragrances and nose and paw butter.

The property’s proximity to the beach and its remoteness from the city and its noise pollution, appeal to the guests who stay here, Ritesh adds. There are also several open spaces including gardens and play areas for animals. An extensive menu serving rice, scrambled eggs, bacon, chicken broth, minced tenderloin, sausages and boiled vegetables is on offer for pets too.

When this hotel became pet-friendly during the pandemic, associates at the hotel were provided specific training on how to handle dogs. “We were told that our furry-friends like to sniff and get to know people better. We were also given training on what to never feed pets including chocolate, salt and butter. Even the staff who were apprehensive in the beginning have become expert pet-handlers. Our four-legged friends never have any complaints for us, just love,” he says. The Taj charges an additional ₹1,000 to accommodate pets.

Every villa at K Resort allows pets to walk around and dance to the beat of their own drum, says Pratik Shah, chief executive officer of the property. In the last year, the organisation has played host to two horses, a large Persian cat, and parrots besides dogs and cats, he says. They are happy to accommodate other exotic creatures that come their way. There are special beds for pets and a curated menu for each pet’s preference.