For years, stray canines would walk into the building, now they have a room of their own along with toys, a play area, food and water.
Mumbai: The iconic Bombay House — headquarters of Tata Sons — that reopened Sunday after renovations has created a kennel for stray dogs.
For years, stray canines would walk into the building in south Mumbai for shelter and food, often lazing silently in the reception area.
Now, with a room of their own at this landmark building, the furry four-legged visitors can come and go as they please.
The room is painted in bright yellow hues with one wall sporting black-and-white doodles of dog faces. The kennel has got everything that can get doggy tails wagging — from warm dog beds, a selection of toys — from balls to rope toys to chew toys — a play area, food and fresh water.
“The Bombay House has a long history of letting stray dogs in as and when they want. There are some who are regulars now. We have tied a collar around their necks and identified them,” a Tata Sons source said, speaking on the condition of anonymity.
“But all this while there was no designated comfortable space for them. So when we were renovating Bombay House, we thought why not have a room for them as well,” the source added.
When the building was under renovation, along with the rest of the office, some of the dogs who called the Tata Sons headquarters their home also voluntarily moved to the temporary office at a rented address nearby.
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The source said, in the old Bombay House, the security guards became friendly with the dogs and used to take care of them. The arrangement is likely to continue even now.
“This is the first time we have a kennel and the building has just reopened. We will know how it is working out and the requirements for the space in a few days,” she said, adding about four or five dogs have already made the renovated room their new home.
The Bombay House was built in 1920 on two plots of land that Sir Dorabji Tata, the group’s second chairman and Jamsetji Tata’s elder son, purchased from the then Bombay Municipality. Renowned architect George Wittet, the brain behind iconic structures such as the Gateway of India and the Chhatrapati Shivaji Vastu Sangrahalaya that was earlier known as the Prince of Wales Museum, had designed the Bombay House as well.
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It is said that Bombay House has a tradition of letting stray dogs in to take shelter from the rain and sun since the days of JRD Tata. Former Tata Sons chairman Ratan Tata is also known to be ardent dog lover who has two dogs of his own. It is said the dogs who take shelter at Bombay House recognise him and wake up to greet him when he enters the building.