Wamiqa Gabbi is a proud mother of six dogs — Phoebe, Milli, Julie, Fluki, Gabbar and Momo — whom she has either rescued or adopted. On World Animal Day today, she opens up about her bond with her furry companions and reflects on how they have shaped her understanding of life.

“Animals live with pure innocence, and I try to keep that same spirit alive within me every day,” she says, adding, “It doesn’t matter if you’ve scolded them or if they’ve made a mistake — they never hold a grudge. The next time you call them, they’ll come running back with the same love and affection. That’s something we should all learn from them — they teach you about the art of letting go; how to forgive, forget and move on.” 

World Animal Day aims to highlight the importance of animal rights and encourage better treatment and care for animals worldwide. And Gabbi finds it deeply distressing when she sees cruelty towards animals: “If someone can hurt an innocent animal, how can we trust them to be safe around people or children? There needs to be stronger laws in place.”

Looking ahead, Gabbi, who turned vegetarian four years ago, dreams of one day having her own animal farm: “I often imagine myself lying with my head resting on a cow’s tummy — it’s something I want to experience.”