It’s officially the season for warm weather. There might be some rain in March, but by and large, the next few months appear set to be hot and sticky, with the heat escalating to levels that even South Asians, accustomed to humidity and intense sunlight, find unbearable. Navigating through this challenging climate will become a daily struggle for us, if it isn’t already.
But what about our pets, those furry friends who make up such a big part of our lives? As we contend with the ever-increasing and fluctuating heat, it is imperative to recognise that our beloved pets are also grappling with these adverse weather conditions. This is particularly pronounced for pets with heavy coats, as they may encounter greater difficulties in managing their body temperature.
Compounding the situation, many pet owners in Colombo have breeds that are not inherently well-suited for the Sri Lankan weather, amplifying the need for vigilant care and consideration.
Adding to the complexity of this predicament is the current state of pet-related services in Sri Lanka. Despite the evident challenges posed by the intense weather, the pet industry, including services such as pet groomers and salons, is still in a phase of growth and expansion. This dearth of well-established services further accentuates the struggle faced by pet owners, as they endeavour to provide optimal care for their animal companions amid challenging weather conditions.
Pet owner perspectives
To investigate the realm of pet-related services in Colombo, The Sunday Morning Brunch spoke to several pet owners.
Roshan de Silva, who had recently welcomed a cocker spaniel into his family, observed the profound impact of the heat on his new canine companion: “He’s still young, so he has a lot of energy and engages in extensive running and playing in the garden. However, once he spends his energy, he completely crashes when he enters the air-conditioned room and sleeps like a baby.”
The discernible exhaustion from the heat is evident, as even during sporadic naps throughout the day, the cocker spaniel adopts strategic positions, such as stretching out and sleeping on his stomach, to alleviate the effects of the intense heat. This emphasises on the need for vigilant care and suitable measures to ensure the well-being and comfort of pets, especially during periods of extreme weather conditions.
Roshan also shared insights into the grooming requirements of his cocker spaniel, highlighting the importance of regular and meticulous care due to the breed’s coat characteristics: “Thankfully, because he is still a pup, his coat is currently thin and not too long. It’s still manageable, but it will eventually become much more difficult. When that time comes, having professional groomers trained in taking care of such coats would be a great help.”
Roshan emphasised on the significance of periodic grooming, noting that it was necessary “even at least once every few months, just to ensure that we’re on the right track concerning his grooming and to guarantee his comfort and happiness”. This underscores the necessity for specialised grooming services tailored to the unique needs of specific breeds, facilitating optimal care and well-being for pets like Roshan’s cocker spaniel.
Brunch also spoke to Kaushi Sendanayake, who shared that it had been somewhat of a challenge to keep her dog Leena – a crossbreed between a rottweiler and a German shepherd – cool and comfortable amid Colombo’s heat given her breed.
“Leena is a balcony dog; she lives in an upstairs apartment and these days when it’s very hot we keep an industrial fan running during the day in addition to the ceiling fan. Because we live on the upper floor, there is no garden space for her, so in the afternoon she spends a lot of time in a tiny courtyard that opens up to the outside which provides ventilation,” she said, adding that since her housemate had flexible hours, she was able to constantly check on Leena and ensure that she was fine.
Grooming one’s pets as a pet owner in Sri Lanka is something Kaushi has noted to be a challenge, given the lack of easily accessible and affordable services.
“Leena is not very comfortable with baths and grooming and such things, so she is incredibly selective when it comes to who gets to trim her nails and hair. Some vets charge extra if your dog is a bit rowdy as well, so it would be nice if there is a professional service that accounts for all pet eccentricities and is still skilled enough to carry out the service.”
She added: “We’ve only ever gone to vets and as soon as the dog sees a medical table like the kind you find at the vet, she struggles. We have a hard time even putting a muzzle on her, so professional help would be great.”
Noting that Leena was a biking dog, she said: “We’ve gone all the way to the end of Baker’s Bend. She is a well-travelled dog and incredibly well behaved but the accessibility of services is a struggle.”
It’s not solely a dog’s world, though. Cats too struggle with the heat and despite popular belief, they too need grooming. Kumudu Perera, whose cat Ginger is currently experiencing some difficulties with her fur coat, shared: “We recently moved to a new place and Ginger has been a bit stressed. I think perhaps the new environment has spooked him a bit and the stress of it is causing him to break out in hives. We’ve had to do a lot of tests and multiple vet visits and because we’ve moved he has had to get used to a new vet. It’s a lot of challenges.”
She also added that because Ginger was a cross-bred cat – a Himalayan and Persian mix – he required a lot of grooming and they had struggled to find a new groomer at their new residence.
A look at the professional pet grooming space
To uncover the nature of the professional pet grooming space in Sri Lanka, Brunch reached out to dog salon and gym Bright Kennel Owner Shenal Fernando, who has been running the grooming service for about four years.
He shared that they provided a range of services for pet owners with all types of dog breeds: “Usually the types of breeds in need of my services tend to be terriers and Shih Tzus because they’re long-coat breeds. There are also Labradors who have very specific needs when it comes to the fur that gathers between their paws. This type of specialised service is what I provide.”
Shenal shared that it was his dream to open a dog grooming facility: “I do it mostly as a passion. I have 12 dogs of my own and I’ve perfected my craft thanks to them. I also hope to complete my education in professional grooming.”
Above all, Shenal simply wishes to assist pet owners to care for their pets more comfortably by taking owners through personal grooming regimens that will work for their pets. “Typically, a lot of my customers tend to bring in their pets twice a month simply because they lack the time to provide that service, but if you have the time I would suggest only coming in once every three months and you can do the rest at home.”
Shenal’s newest venture, a dog gym, recognises the importance of regular and controlled exercises, particularly for ageing pets of breeds like Labradors, which often encounter joint pain and weight gain issues. He explained: “The gym is necessary, especially for ageing pets. They need the exercise but aren’t able to stress their joints out.”
Currently, Shenal has initiated the service with one treadmill, acknowledging that the availability of such specialised equipment remains limited due to its relatively high cost. Despite the initial constraints, he expressed his commitment to expand the service as resources permitted, aiming to address the specific exercise needs of ageing pets to enhance their overall well-being. This initiative reflects Shenal’s dedication to providing comprehensive care and tailored services for the benefit of pets facing age-related health challenges.