Did you know the iconic Bombay House, headquarters of the Tata Group, boasts some furry residents with permanent VIP access? That’s right, thanks to the well-known animal lover Ratan Tata, stray dogs have found a haven within the bustling walls of this corporate giant. This heartwarming tale of compassion not only reflects Mr. Tata’s personal love for dogs but also embodies the Tata Group’s commitment to social responsibility. Dive into this post to discover the story behind the “Ratan Tata dog house” and learn more about this unique initiative that puts kindness at the center of corporate culture.
With a presence in over 100 countries across six continents, the salt to steel conglomerate Tata Group lives by ethics that are rare to find in the business world. The visitors to their headquarters Bombay House are often in for a surprise when they see Tata stray dogs roaming freely and cared for.
Tata stray dogs
The legend of stray dogs at Bombay House
The stray dogs that live in and around Bombay House, Tata Son’s global HQ, have been welcomed into the building since early days. As the story goes, the dog-loving entrepreneur JRD Tata, on seeing the stray dogs around the building welcomed them in. Since then, in true Tata tradition, the dogs have not been turned away as they find refuge from rain and sun in the building. With Ratan Tata being a dog lover, the JRD wish lives on…
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All the dogs at Bombay House have been given names by the security guards and are fed daily. They get regular vaccines and have access to vet care whenever needed. The neighborhood stray dogs are even given a bath and cleaned by an external agency once a week.
Goa is one of the strays who call the building home and is an occupant of the kennel at the Tata Sons HO. He earned his name as he journeyed from Goa to Bombay as a puppy in the car of a senior Tata executive and refused to get off.
The stray dogs were cared for even during the renovation efforts
About a year ago when the senior brass of Tata Leadership moved to a temporary office as renovations were underway at Bombay house. The four-legged residents of the building were also taken along with.
The 94-year-old heritage building has now been revamped but the dogs are still welcomed. The official press release read: “In a first for Bombay House, a kennel has been created for the canine friends who have been an integral part of the building for decades.”
We have Google explicitly mentioning that they are a dog company and also Brewdog, the beer company which celebrates dogs.
Hope other corporate houses also take up such initiative!
Tata Trusts Small Animal Hospital Mumbai
Ratan Tata’s transition from leading Tata Sons to focusing on his passion project, a state-of-the-art animal hospital in Mumbai, marks a significant development set to come to fruition with the inauguration of the Tata Trusts Small Animal Hospital. Tata, a known animal lover, emphasized the evolving role of pets as integral family members, drawing from personal experiences that highlighted the need for advanced veterinary care. This vision, backed by a Rs 165 crore investment, has materialized into a five-story hospital spread over 2.2 acres with a capacity for 200 ‘patients’, under the leadership of British veterinarian Thomas Heathcote, who relocated to Mumbai for this endeavour.
The 24*7 hospital will be India’s largest single-site multi-specialty animal hospital and will treat small companion animals – dogs, cats, rabbits etc.
The animal hospital’s design emphasizes efficiency and accessibility, with clinical areas on the third floor and administrative functions above. Key facilities like outpatient services and emergency care are conveniently located on the ground floor. Diagnostic services including MRI and CT-Scan are available on the first floor, while the second floor houses a surgery suite and related units. The hospital’s annexe block supports the Animal Birth Control program, facilitating sterilization efforts for street dogs and cats, alongside an adoption center promoting the adoption of strays.
Originally intended for Navi Mumbai, Tata’s decision to relocate the hospital to Mahalaxmi stemmed from a strategic move to minimize commute times for pet owners, particularly during emergencies. Despite encountering delays due to bureaucratic processes and the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, Tata’s unwavering commitment to providing top-notch healthcare for pets remained steadfast. The imminent inauguration of the Tata Trusts Small Animal Hospital not only underscores Tata’s dedication to animal welfare but also represents a significant milestone in advancing veterinary care in India.
Iam very much grateful to Ratan Tataji for making a shelter and care for stray dogs. I was having a thought of serving the stray dogs only in my thoughts. But practically iam not financially good to do that. I do service to the stray dogs with wounds by giving medicine and love. Once they are recovered, iam forced to send them.
I request Ratanji to make such shelters in chennai also. Pls provide shelter and food for the stray dogs.It is great about him to start like this. My namaskars and thanks to you ji.
Make a place where school children and stressed work force visit shelters. Look after shelter. Make it a part of CSR. Make this a model and export to other cities. And don’t forget the cats either.
I am a retired Naval officer and a dog lover based in Pune and feel very distressed seeing street dogs not being cared for. In my little way I do feed the dogs around my house and have treated a few with skin deceases and have also got a few vaccinated with my resources. Would really like the big corporate houses with a heart like the Tata’s and the Mahindra’s to take this on seriously as part of their CSR activity. There are many to care of the humans but there are hardly a few to take care of the animals of a lesser God, who are treated mercilessly by the humans.
I request the house of Tata’s to start a mobile clinic and open a shelter for these helpless lovable souls. I am willing to volunteer and work for it.
Would request You Sir to help us help all these four legged beings by opening Sanctuaries in every Town so that they can live comfortably n with respect. All Societies are not even allowing them to sit outside gates so giving them food n water is out of question. Would request You to please start projects all over so that all those who care can give their best to them. Conditions of dogs n Cows are deteorating day by day especially in times of Pandemic ….I have 9 street kids in my home n 3 in boarding . Feeding around 20 around my area …..We are on pension as my husband is Retd Naval Personnel staying in Gurgaon.
I take care of 7 community dogs of my Street..gv food.. shelter in my portico and sterlized them…wish people cud understand the pain of these strays.. Tata please put hoards across India for their help