The Latest
Party Animal
in Town!
Of Stepping Into Pet Parenting and Celebrations with Lekshmi Danendran
An event planner has everything up their sleeve, and perhaps loves to think ten steps ahead, little did Lekshmi Danendran expect herself to be a pet person. Owning her even management organisation, Pixie Dust Stories, something truly magical unfurled when her puppy wagged its way into her life. It not only taught her the joys of pet parenting but let her introduce something new —pet event planning. At the Leap, we’re here to share her story of how she keeps a delicate balance between managing a business, personal commitments, and raising a pet.
“I was never really a pet person,” Lekshmi admits with a laugh. “In fact, I used to run away from dogs.” But everything changed when loneliness started creeping in. Living alone, she made the bold decision to adopt a dog, despite scepticism from friends and family. “Everyone was like, ‘You’re never home, how will you take care of a puppy?’ But I was determined—I knew I could be responsible for a living being.”
On hosting Intimate Events with Heart
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Lekshmi’s love for event planning blossomed early in life. “Even as a kid, I was always the planner,” she shares. “Getting a cake itself used to be such a big thing, and I loved micro -managing even those small moments.” With over a decade in the event industry and the launch of her company Pixie Dust Stories in 2023, she has built a business that specialises in intimate events. “We do cosy birthdays and smaller celebrations—things you could host right in your living room.”
However, it was her newfound role as a pet parent that opened unexpected doors. When her Shih Tzu, Pablo, turned one, Lekshmi decided to throw him a birthday party. “It was very sudden. I was getting married the next month, but I couldn’t resist celebrating Pablo’s first milestone,” she says fondly. “For me, he’s my child, and just like we plan first birthdays for kids, I felt it was only natural to do the same for him.”
The Rise of Pet Parties: Normalising Celebrations for Pets
Planning a pet event has its challenges, but Lekshmi’s expertise made the process smoother. “I reached out to Roms&Raks, a pet store in Kochi, for the venue because you can’t just host a pet party anywhere. I also asked my photographer friend Shabeer Zyed, who was already covering my wedding, and he jumped on board right away.”
Though pet parties are catching on, Lekshmi acknowledges that not everyone understands the trend. “Some people were like, ‘A birthday party for a dog? Isn’t that too much?’ But I always respond - if you’d throw a party for your child, why not for your pet?” she argues. “Celebrating their milestones should be normalised.”
“Some people were like, ‘A birthday party for a dog? Isn’t that too much?’ But I always respond - if you’d throw a party for your child, why not for your pet?” she argues.
Her experience with Pablo’s birthday soon led to other projects, including a birthday event for a celebrity's pet. “The best part about pet events is how intimate they are. It’s usually just the pets, their parents, and friends—it’s not about showing off but ensuring the pets feel comfortable and safe,” she explains. “You have to let them be. At Pablo’s party, we had a pool, and the dogs were all over the place—jumping on chairs, trying to swim - it was chaos, but the good kind.”
Kochi’s Growing Pet-Friendly Community
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Lekshmi is optimistic about the growing pet culture in her hometown. “Kochi is opening up to pets—there’s now a dog park, and cafes like French Toast and Poems Café allow pets. I even participated in a pet flea market called Pawsome Party, which had everything from exotic pets to fashion shows for dogs.”
Despite the progress, she points out the need for more inclusive spaces. “In Pune, you can take your pets inside malls, but in Kochi, we still have a way to go. Some apartments even make pet parents use service elevators, which are often dirty. It’s not fair,” she says. “But I believe change is coming, and the community is growing stronger.”
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Balancing Business, Pets, and Life
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Juggling a business and pet parenting hasn’t been easy, especially with a sensitive breed like a Shih Tzu. “When I started taking Pablo everywhere with me—during event setups and meetings—I couldn’t always focus because I’d be worrying about him scratching things or running off.” Training him to be alone for short periods was essential. “I started leaving him alone for half an hour, then gradually increased it. Now, he’s comfortable even with my in-laws in Pune.”
Lekshmi also shares the emotional challenges of being a pet parent. “When Pablo had tick fever, I saw him being pricked with needles, and I cried. It’s the kind of moment that makes you realise the weight of responsibility. It reminded me of that line parents often say: ‘You’ll understand when you have a child.’ I truly felt that.”
Despite the difficulties, Lekshmi believes her life has become more meaningful with Pablo by her side. “Having a pet brought discipline into my life. I wake up earlier, and even though I mess up sometimes, I’m learning every day.”
The Future of Pet Event Planning
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Looking ahead, Lekshmi sees potential in expanding her venture into the pet space. “I’m still new to all this, but I want to do more pet events. There’s so much scope—activities like kayaking with pets or Christmas dress-up parties. I think if we normalise these things, more people will join in.” For her, the joy of being a pet parent lies in the simple, unconditional love pets offer. “Even after I scold Pablo, he’ll come running and shower me with kisses. That’s the kind of love you can’t find anywhere else.” And it’s this bond that drives her to create events that celebrate the unique relationships between pets and their parents.
For her, the joy of being a pet parent lies in the simple, unconditional love pets offer. “Even after I scold Pablo, he’ll come running and shower me with kisses. That’s the kind of love you can’t find anywhere else.”
Whether it’s hosting small birthday parties or contributing to community events, Lekshmi Danendran is carving a niche in the pet event space. And with her passion and creativity, it’s only a matter of time before pet parties become as common as any other celebration. “At the end of the day,” she says, “it’s all about making memories—whether for a person or a pet.”
