Durga Puja, art, and activism: The world of Bhabatosh Sutar

s, however, stems from both sides of his family tree. My parents are devoted cat enthusiasts actively involved in rescuing and caring for them. They have two cats and generously look after numerous street cats in and around the neighbourhood. It is interesting how our family traditionally leans towards cats, yet I found my professional calling with dogs. Funnily enough throughout my life, I have raised, trained, and rescued cats, but did not practice it professionally.”

His love for dogs meant he always craved for a pet, something that could not happen in his home. From a young age, around 11 or 12, he began facing a range of mental health challenges. Additionally, this was when he first noticed a persistent ringing sound in his right ear, that he struggled with for almost five years before he self-diagnosed as tinnitus. “Those years were incredibly tough; the ringing in my ear made it nearly impossible to sleep. Insomnia became a daily battle, leaving me exhausted and unable to concentrate at school. Predictably, my grades suffered as a result. Navigating this ordeal was deeply isolating,” he recollects. To add to his woes, he began experiencing symptoms that would later be identified as Hansen's disease or leprosy when he was 13, which was diagnosed when he was almost 17. “Before this, I underwent various treatments for what doctors initially misdiagnosed as fungal infections or other skin conditions. The delayed diagnosis and misunderstood treatments strained my trust in conventional medical practices.  My journey, marked by late diagnoses and a quest for effective treatment, has shaped my belief in the power of holistic healing methods. This experience deeply influenced my path forward. In fact it led me to establish K9 Healers, a foundation that is centred around naturopathic and alternative healing approaches for both dogs and humans, integrating these practices to promote holistic well-being,” he says.

In this difficult time, he surrounded himself with books about dogs and spent as much time as I could with the street dogs in his neighbourhood. “I rescued them, played with them, and even trained them to be effective watchdogs. There were moments when these street dogs led to failed attempts at robberies and chain snatchings, with the dogs chasing off the perpetrators. Without any formal training, I naturally developed skills to manage the dogs. I could call them away from people or calm them down if they were agitated by something. These experiences weren't just about bonding with dogs; they were integral to my life,” he says.

England calling

Adnaan's hopes for a pet dog continued and his father suggested he travels to England to meet his best friend—a seasoned dog owner who had always had dogs and was exceptionally skilled with them. “The plan was for me to learn from him, spend time around dogs, and if I found the right one, bring it back with me from England,” he says. This was in 2010 and he met Harry Carter, a legendary figure in the dog training world and the Queen of England's own dog trainer, who became his mentor. “Mr. Carter, who must be 94 today, introduced me to the intricate world of security dogs and dog sports. Under his guidance, I trained with Rottweilers in a German sport called IGP, gaining invaluable skills and insights,” he says.

His father convinced him to stay back and he enrolled into a Business Management through a Bachelor of Science program at the University of East Anglia in Norwich turned out to be one of the most transformative phases of his life. “Despite my introverted and reclusive nature, I found myself growing comfortable in social settings. I took on significant roles at the university, such as heading the International Student Society, where I coordinated the care of 2000 international students alongside other dedicated panellists. I also served as a union representative, delving into student politics and administration, gaining valuable experience in organising and leadership at a young age,” he says.

Back to India

Returning to India he started working at Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL), a prominent luxury real estate consultancy and fulfilled his dream of owning a pet dog Homer, a bullmastiff from Amritsar in 2013. “This marked a pivotal moment for my mental health journey, as Homer quickly became my closest companion. He taught me the importance of living in the moment and not dwelling on past troubles or future uncertainties,” he says. Homer's influence was profound as he sparked the inception of K9 School, where his journey in dog training and education began in India. “Later, Stella, my second dog, further inspired the creation of K9 Healers. Each dog played a pivotal role in shaping my mission to promote holistic well-being through natural and alternative healing practices for both dogs and humans,” he adds.

Training dogs

When he got his first dog home, he realised that there were a lot of services that were missing in India and this led him to launch the first dog training and boarding facility with the most advanced, dog keeping systems that exist in the world. “And that's how the first K9 school was born in 2016. It was a one-acre farm and over the years we have trained over 4000 dogs from that facility. And more than 600 to 700 people have trained under me as dog trainers from that institution who are successfully working in commercial pet services or security dog handling services or even with veterinarians and groomers or running their own businesses and institutions,” he says.

He also started behaviour consultation services to foster deeper bonds between dogs and their owners, emphasizing understanding and mutual respect. His videos on his work caught the attention of the DIG, Head of Parliament Security in 2020 who invited him to visit the Lok Sabha Parliament Security sniffer dog squad. “My primary role as a civilian consultant to all of the defence forces is to improve their standards, provide and procure them with modern and advanced bloodlines to have the most optimum, most top-notch performing canine soldiers on our borders to defend against any kind of situation and be ready for the highest level of tactical combat and strategies,” he says.

 

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As the only Indian who has been trained in five different dog sport disciplines and over 11 different police dog training centres and academies, he is also the chief consultant for the Indian Cricket Board, BCCI and Haryana Cricket Board and IPL for their security dogs in their stadiums. “What drives me the most is the profound connection we share with dogs. They have chosen us to be their voice, their champions, working tirelessly to ensure their needs are understood and met. Through this role, we strive to foster harmony between humans and dogs, enabling them to lead happier lives together,” he says. Now he spends his time running five boarding and training schools and one foundation - K9 Healers. “In addition to that, I want my personally designed dog training system which we are registering as our own proprietary intellectual property to go mainstream. I am working on writing a book and a set of online courses. I want my pet raising and dog training system to be able to reach everyone's phone and laptop and every little device out there, for anyone who wants to raise their dog better and they may not have access to a good training institution around them,” he signs off.

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