Pranicool: Providing a haven for your pets

Photo: LS archive

In a world where we do not know how to put value to human lives, caring about an animal may seem a bit too far-fetched. Animal welfare was never given much thought in Dhaka, until recently. People do not think twice before abandoning day-old puppies or treat animals cruelly. Coming from that cruel culture to adopting a mongrel or a stray cat, Dhakaiites have now opened their doors and hearts to animals.

The founders of PraniCool Animal Wellness Centre, a private treatment facility, feel that there should be animal wellness centres in the private sector where all types of health services are available under one roof.

PraniCool is a venture initiated by a group of animal lovers, people who have pets themselves and are fully aware of what is lacking in pet care services in the city.

Dr Farzana Alam Shampa, a professor of marketing by profession; Simu Naser, a well known content maker; Rakibul Haque Emil, an architect; and Dr Tarana Hossain, a physician, are co-founders of PraniCool.

It is their love that has given rise to quality healthcare facilities for pets.

"We opened in March and our space is unique. We even have it painted in colours that are soothing to an animal's eye," says architect Rakibul Haque Emil. Even their waiting table and chair boast a fear-free design. Usually in a veterinarian clinic, the animal baskets are placed on the floor but it is different at PraniCool. 

A simple chair that has a movable table rest and two side partition walls, is where you place your basket. It is designed in such a manner that the already sick animals do not become scared, make no eye contact with other sick patients, or mingle to spread diseases.

"We have an in-patient department where we observe and monitor the recovering animal after surgery. X-ray, pathology, isolation for infectious diseases, and consultation have separate rooms at our centre. Although grooming is not a clinical service, it is about cleanliness. So, we have experts in this area, trained from abroad.

"We make house calls -- a doctor and a trained assistant will come to your house. There is also an ambulance service with oxygen cylinder, and treatment table, all disinfected ticking, off the items in a standard checklist," says Emil, adding that they have proper telemedicine services as well.

What was out of the question only seven to eight years ago is now a reality. Most people are picking up local breeds of dogs and foreign dogs and cats as pets. And this desire to have a pet to cuddle has given rise to professional veterinarian clinics and hospitals.

Stories like giving wrong diagnosis and treatment actions led to fatalities in so many instances; a small thing like trimming the coat led to serious ringworm issues; the below par vet services were the only help we could avail then. The scenario has reversed thanks to clinics like PraniCool. Now, we have proper animal hospitals and clinics where the pet owners can avail of quality treatment for their furry friends.