Hyderabad’s biggest pet exhibition, HyCan 2025, began at Om Convention in Narsingi on Saturday morning, bringing together 500 dogs and 100 cats for a two-day celebration of the human-animal bond.
KT Rama Rao inaugurated the show and spent over an hour at the venue despite his busy schedule with the Jubilee Hills polls. He arrived with his pet Cherry, a Shih Tzu, a toy dog breed originating from Tibet.
“Pets are like your own kids. My Cherry is my stress buster,” KT Rama Rao told the media. “However busy I may be, I make it a point to spend some time with my Cherry.”
The former minister revealed that his son owns seven different breeds of dogs. He interacted with pet owners, enquired about various breeds, and posed for selfies with visitors at the event organized by Hyd Canine Club.
The show features an “Aqua Zone” displaying 80 to 100 varieties of fish, according to Philip Butt, Honorary Secretary of the organizing club. The exhibition also includes opportunities for pet businesses and aquatic displays.
In a groundbreaking initiative, HyCan 2025 partnered with the Government of Telangana and GHMC to launch “Safe With Dogs”, a public awareness campaign aimed at reducing fear and promoting responsible pet ownership in Hyderabad.
GHMC will invite pet-friendly cafés, shops, and establishments to participate in educational workshops. Participants will earn a GHMC-endorsed certificate and receive a “Safe With Dogs” sticker for display at their premises. The program runs four times daily and is expected to be inaugurated by Hyderabad Collector Ms. Harichandana.
The event also hosted the National Canine Bravery Awards on Saturday evening, organized jointly by RRU Commando K9 Academy and Hyderabad Canine Club. Central and State Police K9 units from across India participated, with the top canines receiving honors in the presence of senior police officials.
The two-day show includes All-Breed Championship Dog Shows judged by six international judges, a Cat Championship, an International Dog Grooming Competition, grooming seminars, and cat grooming workshops. The event concludes on Sunday evening.
