Ratan Tata shared his pictures with “Goa” and other dogs on Instagram.

New Delhi:

Industrialist, philanthropist and dog lover Ratan Tata died in Mumbai yesterday at the age of 86. As a mark of respect, the national flag will be flown at half-mast over government offices in Maharashtra.

Ratan Tata had great compassion for dogs and advocated for the welfare of stray animals. He was concerned about the welfare of abandoned pets and ensuring their safety, especially during the monsoon season when stray dogs often take shelter under cars.

At his funeral, his dog “Goa” came to pay his last respects to Mr. Tata. There is a story why Mr. Tata named the dog “Goa”.

Once Ratan Tata was in Goa when a stray dog ​​accompanied him. He decided to adopt him and bring him to Mumbai. Mr. Tata called him “Goa” and lives with other stray dogs at Bombay House in Mumbai. Just like the iconic Taj Hotel, stray dogs are welcome at Bombay House – a historic building in the city that serves as the headquarters of the Tata Group.

The caretaker of “Goa” said, “He has been with us for 11 years. The security guards brought this dog from Goa when we were having a picnic there. Ratan Tata loved him very much.”

Mr. Tata shared his pictures with “Goa” and other dogs on Instagram.

Mr. Tata’s connection with dogs ran deep. In 2018, he was set to receive a prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award from the British Royal Family. That of King Charles III. (then Prince Charles) and hosted by the British Asian Trust was intended to honor Tata for his philanthropic contributions. Although Tata initially agreed to take part, he decided to stay at home and take care of his sick dog. This story was told by businessman Suhel Seth, who recalled Tata explaining: “Tango and Tito, my dogs – one of them got terribly sick. I can’t leave him and come.”

Among his many projects, Mr. Tata had a vision for the Small Animal Hospital, Mumbai (SAHM), a facility equipped with state-of-the-art technology for animal care. This initiative was close to his heart and his commitment to quality animal care underscores his commitment to improving the lives of strays and pets alike.

The hospital opened in July and is a five-story center that can accommodate nearly 200 patients.

The project was announced in 2017 and will be located in Navi Mumbai. However, Tata felt that commuting to work would be burdensome for pet owners and so moved the hospital to a central location.