Our sutradhaars, both diehard animal lovers, discuss how friendly neighbourhoods play a key role in protecting and ensuring the welfare of these often-misunderstood street animals

Parag Phadnis who runs Eat Well Cold Storage and General Stores in Mulund, fosters two strays and ensures they are fed and kept safe. PIC/FIONA FERNANDEZ

I hope you and the missus had a memorable, happy Navroze,” exclaimed Lady Flora, as she gave her friend a bear hug; only she had the liberty to express herself in this fashion, despite knowing well the embarrassment it caused Sir PM. He wriggled out of it in a flash, and promptly handed over a box from Parsi Dairy Farm; it contained the silvery, delicious-looking Mawa ni Boi. “Thank you for the sweet thought. I was beginning to wonder if all was well at your end, when I didn’t get a response to my wish…” she continued, while carefully placing the sweet delicacy in her zipped, waterproof tote. Dry and safe from the incessant downpour that continues to wreak havoc across the city and its suburbs, the two settled into their preferred benches in the last rows of the cathedral. Even a sprightly neighbourhood stray had to take shelter by the porch, as the security guard fed him some biscuits and clean water.

I hope you and the missus had a memorable, happy

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