CUPA hospital gets swanky new address

Three-storey building houses separate wards for cats and dogs, a diagnostic lab, and a grooming centre

CUPA’s Small Animal Speciality Hospital has moved to a new location, and now offers new services.

The hospital for pets was started 15 years ago. It recently moved from Deve Gowda Road, RT Nagar, to the RT Nagar Main Road. “The old building was cramped. During the pandemic, we had to make pet parents wait outside,” says Col Dr Jagdish M, chief administrative officer, explaining the need for a bigger space.

The hospital, now spread over 5,000 sq ft and three floors, owes the expansion to CSR funding. “The space is more welcoming and keeps the pets calmer,” says Dr Adity D Miranda, who works at the centre. The first floor houses a waiting area, grooming centre, pet store and pharmacy. The grooming unit is a crowd puller. “We have a new groomer, Judith, who has worked with the dogs of film stars in Mumbai,” Dr Jagdish told Metrolife.

The fee for grooming depends on the body weight of the dog, and ranges from Rs 500 to Rs 1,500.

The second floor has an outpatient department, operation theatres and ultrasound and X-ray rooms.

Earlier, dogs would be excited and that would result in faulty temperature readings, but now, thanks to a spacious waiting area, they calm down before they are taken upstairs.

“We also now have separate rooms for aggressive and scared pets,” she adds.

In a day, the hospital sees 70-80 cases and performs four to five surgical procedures. Pet parent Vikas Mahendra says the waiting time has come down. “Also, it feels less like a hospital and more like a home,” he says.

The new location has two operation theatres, geared for procedures covering everything from birth control to cancer.

The third floor houses inpatients, with separate wards for cats and dogs. “Pet parents can spend as much time here as they like. We have no restrictions,” says Dr Jagdish.

The floor also houses a diagnostics lab, something the old location did not have.

The hospital can be contacted on 91088 55888.

No hike in rates

The CUPA hospital’s rates have not changed. The consultation fee is Rs 100. Indie dogs, street cats and other rescues get a 25 per cent discount. “Rescued animals are also treated for free at our trauma centre,” says Dr Jagdish.

They also now have a pet cab service.The price is fixed at Rs 250 for 5 km, and Rs 30 for every subsequent km.

Proceeds from the hospital are used for CUPA’s shelters and other initiatives.