Ratan Tata, the chairman emeritus of Tata Sons, passed away on October 9 in Mumbai at the age of 86. He had been admitted to Breach Candy Hospital since Monday, following a sudden drop in blood pressure, and remained in critical condition in the ICU. Tata was well-known for his deep affection for animals, especially dogs. He adopted a stray dog named Goa and frequently turned to his Instagram family to help find forever homes for rescued dogs and so forth. One particularly memorable moment came when he missed an important meeting with King Charles to stay by the side of his sick dog.
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In 2018, Ratan Tata was set to receive a lifetime achievement award for his philanthropic work from Prince Charles (now King Charles III) at Buckingham Palace, as part of an event hosted by the British Asian Trust. However, he cancelled his plans at the last minute because one of his beloved dogs was gravely ill.
Indian businessman Suhel Seth, who shared this touching story, recalled his surprise at receiving multiple missed calls from Tata. After 11 missed calls, when he finally spoke to him, Tata explained, “Tango and Tito, his dogs, one of them had fallen ill. I can’t leave him and come.”
When Prince Charles heardof this, he praised Tata and expressed admiration for his priorities. Seth recalled King Charles saying, “That’s a man. That’s the man Ratan is. That’s why the house of Tata is what it is. That’s why it’s on a stable course.”
Tito died a few years ago.
Favourite dog Goa
Goa was reportedly Ratan Tata’s favourite dog who often accompanied him to meetings. Ratan Tata once shared the interesting story behind the dog’s name: “He was a stray puppy when he got into my colleague’s car in Goa, and came all the way to Bombay house, hence the name Goa.”
Small animal hospital in Mumbai
In July this year, Tata opened a small animal hospital in Mumbai, after it transitioned from its trial phase to full operation. The hospital is equipped with cutting-edge technology and has specialists from various disciplines to diagnose and treat complex medical cases.
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Dogs allowed in Taj Mahal Hotel
Tata has also made it a point to ensure that animals are treated with kindness at the Taj Mahal Hotel in Mumbai. He instructed the staff to treat animals entering the hotel premises with care. In May of this year, an HR professional shared a picture of a stray dog peacefully sleeping at the hotel’s entrance. In a LinkedIn post, she expressed her admiration for the establishment, noting that it accommodates numerous guests, including political dignitaries and celebrities, while still making space for a dog who quietly rests, perhaps unnoticed by many.
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