Tia Bajpai is an Indian singer, television, and film actress. She made her film debut in 2011 with Vikram Bhatt’s film Haunted – 3D, and appeared in 1920: Evil Returns and Baankey Ki Crazy Baraat. She also participated in the Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Challenge 2005.
Tiny Paws, Big Place in the Heart
I grew up surrounded by dogs at my maternal grandmother’s house; we had about fifteen Pomeranian Spitz over the years, and later, a Doberman joined the family. I was especially close to our very first Pomeranian, Alice. There was something incredibly special about that bond; it stayed with me long after. In total, we have almost 25 pets, including cats and injured birds.
The Doberman, Coco, came into my life when I was a little older. I must have been around eight, and despite his size and strength, he was remarkably gentle with me. I would take him out for walks, and he never once pulled on the leash or tried to overpower me. There was a quiet understanding between us; he just knew.
My grandma had a beautiful habit of rescuing animals, nurturing them back to health, and giving them a home. Growing up in that environment naturally shaped my love for animals.
A Love Story with Paw Prints
As an adult, when I moved to Mumbai and finally had a place of my own, I got my first pet a Siberian Husky named Leo. He was with me for 11 and a half years, and that time is something I will always cherish. Leo wasn’t just a pet; he was like my first child, and that bond is irreplaceable. He was incredibly expressive, almost as if he could speak. People often say pets can’t communicate, but that was never true in his case. Whether he wanted to go for a walk, needed food, or wasn’t feeling well, he always found a way to make me understand. He was wonderfully “talkative.”
Over time, something even more extraordinary happened. I’m a singer, and every morning I would do my riyaaz at home with my music teacher; it was a disciplined, almost sacred routine. Somehow, Leo tuned into it. He developed this beautiful and unbelievable habit of “singing” along with me. Whenever I practiced my scales sa re ga ma pa dha ni sa, he would sit beside me and join in, in his own way.
I used to call him my singing dog. It was rare, magical, and deeply special, one of those memories that stays with you forever.
Pawsome Connections
Right now, I have two Indie dogs at home: Minnie, a 12-year-old female rescued by my brother, and Boozo, a seven-month-old male whom my mother rescued, and now he’s full of mischief and energy. They both live with us and are very much a part of the family.
Beyond that, there are five dogs we’ve rescued over the years who don’t live inside the house but are cared for by us every day. My family feeds them, and they’re always lounging in our garden, so in many ways, they feel like my pets too. It’s never really been about ownership for us; it’s about care, connection, and giving them a sense of home. Each of them has found a place with us, and together they’ve turned our home into a space filled with warmth, love, and constant companionship.
Life is Better with Paws Around
I’m generally a very home-loving, quiet person. I don’t really enjoy going out much. When I’m in Lucknow, my favorite place is our garden. I like to sit there with a cup of tea, share food with my pets, and just play ball with them.
Over time, I’ve realized that my personality is naturally calm and easy-going, and somehow, my pets have also adapted to that energy. There’s a certain peace in the way we all coexist; it’s simple, quiet, and deeply comforting.
Furrever Kind of Love
My most cherished companion was Leo, my Siberian Husky, not because of his breed, but because of what he meant to me. I got him when I had just begun my journey in Mumbai, at a time when I didn’t really know anyone. In many ways, he became my anchor in a new, unfamiliar city.
No matter what kind of day I had, I knew that when I came home, Leo would greet me with so much love that all the exhaustion would simply melt away. After long shoots, our nightly walks became our little ritual, quiet, comforting, and something I always looked forward to. And every morning, he would wake me up with cuddles, as if gently reminding me to begin again. Those moments were simple, but they meant everything.
Finding Joy in the Ordinary
I like to believe my pets are already living a life they don’t need a vacation from! But of course, we still have our little indulgences. We go for car rides, stop for the occasional ice cream treat, and in the summer, there’s nothing they love more than a good swim. It’s our version of fun, simple, a little quirky, and full of joy.
Fuelling a Happy and Healthy Life
Many of my pets are oldies now, so their routine is quite gentle, and there isn’t much physical exercise involved. We’ve naturally adapted to their needs with time. There are special meals prepared for the senior dogs, keeping their age and health in mind, while the younger ones have a more active diet with freshly prepared chicken meals.
The younger dogs are also potty trained and have been given basic training, which makes life more structured and comfortable for both them and us. Over the years, it’s become less about managing pets and more about understanding and responding to each of their individual needs.
Caring for Their Health with Every Meal
All my pets follow a very simple, home-cooked diet. For breakfast, they have kibbles, but lunch and dinner are always freshly prepared at home. Their meals usually consist of boiled chicken with vegetables like carrots, pumpkin, and bottle gourd, lightly cooked with a touch of turmeric, along with rice.
It’s important for me that they eat clean, nourishing food; it’s a small way of making sure they stay healthy and cared for every day.
For a special treat, I make a simple carrot and apple cake for them. It’s just boiled carrots, apple, and oats, set in a mould. It started as a birthday tradition for Leo, and he absolutely loved it. Over time, it became something all of them look forward to.
It’s a small ritual, but it holds a lot of emotion for me, especially because it began with him and continues as a little celebration for all of them.
Responsible Pet Parenting Starts with Love
For me, responsible pet care really comes down to consistency, patience, and genuine commitment. It’s important to understand that bringing a pet home is a long-term responsibility; they rely on you completely for their well-being, comfort, and safety.
Simple things go a long way: feeding them clean, balanced meals, maintaining basic grooming and hygiene, and ensuring regular check-ups. But beyond that, it’s about being emotionally present, spending time with them, understanding their behavior, and creating a space where they feel secure and loved.
Every pet is different, so it’s important to be attentive to their individual needs rather than following a one-size-fits-all approach. At the end of the day, it’s not just about caring for them; it’s about building a bond based on trust, respect, and love.
Paw-Fun
- Favorite activity together: swimming, walks. Play fetch with almost anything
- Annoying habits: Boozo eats all my plants, chews my shoes
- Qualities you love: unconditional love. Z plus security
- Funny/ Crazy antics: Singing; Giving puppy eyes, and I fall for it every time.