How PMRDA chief Mahesh Zagade’s family loves Brandy

Nobody in PMRDA Chief Mahesh Zagade’s family can say no to the furry baby Brandy. Daughter Oma lets us in on the story

Anything Brandy wants, Brandy gets: pillows, treats, toys… playtime, cuddles, hugs… the window seat in the car…trips to Mumbai to see water pani (in Brandy language means the sea).

The day brandy walked into the house: with Mahesh Zagade
The day brandy walked into the house: with Mahesh Zagade

It helps that Brandy is a four-legged darling. His story began seven years ago when he walked into the garden of the Zagade family as a tiny month-old puppy. PMRDA Chief Mahesh Zagade found him and began a day-long search to reunite him with his canine family.

It didn’t work. So, Brandy, as elder daughter Priyanka named him, moved in to bring joy to the Zagade home.

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Neelum with Brandy

“We had a havan the same evening and he sat with mom – Neelum, and watched everything with interest. We were all in love with him by then. Now, he is the most important family member,” recounts younger daughter Oma, a student of dentistry.

So much so that Oma calls him the protective elder brother because he acts like that – growling at anybody who comes close. That instinct extends to the entire family. In fact, when they go for day trips or simply for car rides, if any human comes close to their car, there is a barking spell. That continues at home too! Strangers are given extra scrutiny, from head to toe, enough to make them feel uncomfortable. And he manages that very well, though he is a mid-sized mixed breed dog!

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Priyanka with Brandy

She confides, “My parents call him their son. Dad says Brandy is the only kid who is as excited to greet all of us when we return as he was on the first day he came home. So he is dad’s favourite baby.” And much like a baby, if he doesn’t get what he wants, he throws a tantrum, cries, stops talking to his family. “He is ziddi that way. If we do something he doesn’t like, he goes complaining to mom,” adds Oma. He is also a big support for the family. Oma recounts the nights and days he sits next to her almost reading her study books just to keep her company.

Not scared of anything, once, Brandy killed a snake, merely a foot from the watchman’s cabin and stayed there the entire night to show the family his effort!

Oma with Brandy

Pampered silly, Brandy has his set of bed linen, a bed, a pillow, blanket and tons of toys and clothes. He sleeps on his own bed in mom and dad’s room. But if somebody is unwell, they are bound to wake up in the middle of the night to a wet nose and a furry head staring at them.

“It was scary earlier, now we expect it,” smiles Oma. His favourite dog treats are a must whenever he demands them. Apart from that, he relishes chapati with butter and regular dog food.

Not fussy, not messy, a real sweetheart, Oma sums up, “He makes our house lively. We can’t do without him.”

11June_Pets_Uma headshot03Uma Karve Chakranarayan is editor and publisher of Tell Tail, Pune’s only petzine and partner, Petsworld, a pet food and accessories store. She’s fond of animals and is parent to two mixed breed dogs and a Guinea pig. She also looks after homeless dogs in her area.’Furholics’ appears every Saturday on Pune365.

Uma Karve Chakranarayan