Dr Ayyappan Pet Speciality Clinic

Over at Old No 4, New No 10 N Street in Kilpauk Garden Colony, things are usually a bit noisy. That’s because Dr Ayyappan Pet Speciality Clinic is often full of dogs barking and cats meowing in their carriers. We are right near the Indore Basket Ball Stadium in Chennai, which is a good landmark to tell people if they’re trying to find our door for the first time. Working with animals is never a predictable thing. One minute it’s a tiny puppy getting its first shots, and the next it’s a big grumpy dog with a sore paw that doesn't want anyone touching it. The floors get dirty pretty fast with all the paws coming through, so we are constantly cleaning up throughout the day. It’s not a sterile, silent office. It’s a place with a lot of character and usually some pet hair on our clothes by the end of the shift. The residents of Kilpauk know us quite well. They bring their pets in and we chat about the neighborhood while the doctor does the exams. It’s a small space, and sometimes it feels a bit crowded when two big dogs don't get along in the waiting room. We just do our best to keep everyone calm and moving through. It’s hard work, and sometimes it’s a bit sad when a pet is very old, but mostly it’s just busy and energetic. We’ve been here for years.