A TALE OF 22 RESCUES

Happiest in court, a patriot, passionate about animal rights, cricket, music, oil on canvas art and theatre - meet senior advocate Percival Billimoria, who has 23 dogs and all except one, are rescue cases.

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Were you raised in a family which appreciated and adored animals? Have you always had a canine companion at home?

I grew up in Bombay and my very first dog was a spitz called Honey. I still remember her as a very intelligent and perceptive dog. She made me realise that once people live with dogs they come to love them very much. Living in a joint family, my aunt was horrified when Honey was brought home. But soon she refused to let Honey get out of her sight.

Please tell us about your dogs.

My next dog was Trixie-baa, an Irish setter. By this time, I had moved to New Delhi and my mum came to live with me after my father transitioned. Trixie-baa lived to a ripe old age and became my mum's constant companion while I was burning the 2 am oil at work. Now I have 23 dogs and all except one are rescue cases. All females have “baa” as a suffix while the males are "boos".

We have learnt that you take them for morning walks at the crack of the dawn. Apart from it, what does a typical day look like in your household? Are there quiet evenings that anchor you?

You heard wrong. The 2 am oil became 4 am oil. My work is very challenging but fortunately, I have good staff to take care of the brood. This means that they are taken to the vet regularly, vaccinated and get their meals at regular hours. There's a dog house for them though they are in any case all over the home. Some of them take turns sleeping in my bed.

How do your pets shape or disrupt your rhythm—do they force pauses, or offer perspective?