Sri Vijaya Puram | December 2025
The Department of Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Services (AH&VS) added colour, cheer and a strong message of compassion to the ongoing Island Tourism Festival (ITF) 2025 by organising a vibrant Pet Show at the ITF Ground recently. The event drew an enthusiastic crowd of hundreds of residents, families, children, tourists and animal lovers, celebrating the deep bond between humans and animals.
The programme was inaugurated by the Guest of Honour, Ms. Pallavi Sarkar, IAS, Secretary (AH&VS). The event opened with an impressive demonstration by highly trained dogs of the Andaman & Nicobar Police and Forest Department. Their display of discipline, obedience and specialised skills in detection and protection duties earned loud applause from the audience, underscoring the crucial role of trained dogs in public safety and conservation across the islands.
As many as 55 pets participated in the competition across four categories. The large breed category featured 26 dogs, including Labrador, German Shepherd, Chippiparai, Golden Retriever, Siberian Husky, American Bully and Dogo Argentino. The small breed segment saw 17 entries such as Indian Spitz, Pomeranian, Shih Tzu and Lhasa Apso. The show also highlighted six local mongrel (desi) dogs and six cats, whose confident presence and affectionate nature received special appreciation, reinforcing the message that companionship is not defined by pedigree.
The pets were evaluated by a distinguished panel of judges comprising Dr. Amal Kanti Rai, Retd. Senior Veterinary Officer; Dr. K. Geeta Gladson, Veterinary Officer, Friendicoes-SECA NGO; and Dr. K. P. Ummer, Retd. Senior Veterinary Officer. Judging was based on health, temperament, grooming and overall personality.
Prizes were distributed by Ms. Pallavi Sarkar, IAS; Ms. Niharika Bhatt, IPS, Superintendent of Police (South Andaman District); Dr. Jai Sunder, Director, ICAR-Central Island Agricultural Research Institute (CIARI); and Dr. A. K. Bardhan, Retd. Senior Veterinary Officer. In the large breed category, Har Ram secured first place, followed by A. Ramu and Dr. Dinesh. The small breed category was won by Surajit Datta, with Dr. Anuradha Norkar and Asutosh Verma finishing second and third respectively. In the mongrel category, M. Prajith Kumar emerged first, followed by Sanjita Bai and Kartikeya. The cat category was topped by Zohra, with Niharika and Tanuja securing second and third places.
Beyond competition and celebration, the Pet Show conveyed a strong social message on responsible pet ownership. AH&VS emphasised the importance of regular anti-rabies vaccination, compulsory sterilisation under the Animal Birth Control (ABC) programme, and humane treatment of animals. The Department also encouraged the adoption of Indian and local mongrel breeds, highlighting their intelligence, resilience and suitability to the island climate.
AH&VS appealed to residents and visitors to adopt homeless animals, ensure timely vaccination and sterilisation of pets, and contribute towards creating a compassionate, rabies-free and harmonious environment for all living beings in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
