They wore the goofiest grins,
Secretly ran our homes,
Ruled our hearts,
Embodiments of love and loyalty —
and their stories deserved to be told.

At The Better India, our pets (or pawdyguards!) may have had shorter lives, but they filled them with the biggest purpose. They weren’t just pets. They were colleagues, comedians, comforters, and companions who stood by us through edits, rewrites, deadlines, and long nights.

On mornings, they sprawled belly-up under our desks, soaking up warmth. At other times, they loitered with hopeful eyes, waiting for us to step away from the laptop and toss them a treat.

This International Dog Day, we share the tales of our very own furry co-workers — five unforgettable dogs who brightened our homes and our workdays far beyond word counts and headlines.

Sumi Borah’s ‘Cuddles’: The treat thief with a 100% success rate

Cuddles, Sumi Borah’s seven-year-old Indie, is happy-go-lucky, clever, and fiercely independent. She is also the younger sister of Bubbly, Sumi’s other dog — a sweet but slightly gullible soul.

“Together, they are like a sitcom pair: one sharp and scheming (that was Cuddles), and the other endlessly good-natured but easily tricked (that was Bubbly). They share my bed, my home, and, like all siblings, have their share of hilarious drama,” says Sumi, associate director of people and culture at The Better India.

Cuddles is famous in the house for her “treat heist”. The trick is always the same: she devours her own treat at lightning speed, then rushes to bark at absolutely nothing outside. Concerned, Bubbly drops her own treat and runs to investigate. In a flash, Cuddles zips back inside like a bullet train and polishes off her sister’s abandoned prize. Bubbly, still outside, continues to bark into the void.

Sumi laughs, “The scam has a 100 percent success rate. I swear she could teach masterclasses in con artistry.”

Beyond her cons, Cuddles loves her watchtowers — the balcony and terrace — where she keeps a close eye on the neighbourhood. Most of all, she makes sure the delivery man knows he isn’t welcome.

She has also developed an uncanny association with the home’s landmark — the Public Health........

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