In Love With Dogs & Words

Both these pretty young ladies share a deep affection for animals, especially dogs, and for the written word. Riah Rajani and Naisha Kanodia share a slice of their life with us, which includes Tisa and Cuba, their furry little ones

- Farzana Contractor

The best thing young parents can ever do for their children when they are really little is get them acquainted with animals, outdoor life, reading books, music… But when there are children who are naturally drawn to all things nature and have an innate sense of empathy and compassion, the parents are truly blessed.

I met two lovely young girls, both so adorable, each in their own way, I was totally blown away. They are Riah Rajani and Naisha Kanodia. Riah, 11, who studies at Cathedral and John Connon in Class V and Naisha, 13, who studies at Dhirubhai Ambani International, in Grade VII. Both are gentle, loving, articulate and total nature and animal lovers. Both have dogs they are mad about. Riah’s is Tisa, a Shih-Tzu and Naisha’s is a Havanese who she has named Cuba, no prizes for guessing why.

Naisha always has a smile on her face, even when she talks, and now with eyes shining bright she eagerly tells me about her dad’s dad, Yogendra Kanodia, an animal lover, who she spent a lot of time with, growing up. She was barely three years old, when her love for dogs showed up. “Whenever I went to his house, I would be in the balcony looking at the dogs down below and I would go, ‘Dog, dog, dog’. Even when in the street I would want to run after them. I have always loved dogs!” says Naisha. Her dada (grandfather) had three generations of German Shepherds and they were called Tarzan 1, Tarzan 2 and Tarzan 3. “My dad grew up with the last one and he tells me they used to go for a swim in the ocean, off Shivaji Park!” she adds.