Play sports together, hug and relieve stress. It seems like a win-win situation for people and animals. During “Downward Facing Dog” in the yoga studio, not only feel the stretch, but also the cute puppies around you, is the motto of “Puppy Yoga”.
Kiranjot Kaur and Tania Singh have been successfully offering “Puppy Yoga” classes in Bratislava for some time. They have also submitted an application in Vienna and would like to offer yoga classes in the 13th district in the future.
Delivery note
“Vienna Hoje”, February 18, 2024, 7pm, ORF2
Providers are waiting for a response
“We were already told verbally that it probably wouldn’t work and we were also told several times that we should withdraw the request, but we didn’t,” Kaur said in the “Wien Today” interview.
Applicants were told that the dogs were very young “and if the participants took them in, that wouldn’t be so good,” trainer Yogar continued. According to the veterinary office, the official decision should be made in a few weeks. A verbal rejection is not known.
Veterinary office examines request
“We, as an authority, are completely open-minded about this, we always examine the individual concept and ensure, especially now in the case of 'Puppy Yoga', that the puppies do not become overwhelmed,” said Vienna's official veterinarian. Veterinary Office, Susanne Drechsler.
The veterinary office does not wish to provide any information about the ongoing procedure. At the time of approval, the animal protection law is the main focus. According to the animal protection ombudsman, this is not respected in “Puppy Yoga”.
“Extremely overworked” puppies
Indra Kley-Schöneich from the Vienna Animal Ombudsman criticizes that it is simply a matter of eight to ten week old puppies becoming “extremely overwhelmed” when exposed to such a situation.
“You have to imagine that they are not just brought in by the breeder, they are separated from their mother, perhaps their siblings, and enter a completely unfamiliar environment.”
Possibly business startup model
It is also unclear whether “Puppy Yoga” is a possible business startup model. In other words, the animals are then sold.
“It's simply important that I decide whether I want to spend the next ten or 15 years with a dog, a partner, a family member, that you can't make that decision in a 45-minute yoga session when I have a cute little dog. meeting”, points out Kley-Schöneich.