Street dog finds refuge at Taj Mahal Hotel: ‘strict instructions from Ratan Tata’

A dog sleeps peacefully near Taj Mahal Hotel (Image credit: Rubi Khan/LinkedIn)

The heartwarming sight of a dog sleeping peacefully at the entrance of a five-star hotel has become a lesson in compassion. A photograph of the dog and story behind his unlikely site of refuge was recently shared on LinkedIn by an HR professional who stayed at Mumbai’s famous Taj Mahal Hotel.

In her LinkedIn post, Rubi Khan said she was surprised to see a street dog sleeping peacefully near the hotel’s entrance. On speaking to the hotel staff, Khan learned that Ratan Tata has issued strict instructions on the treatment of stray dogs.

Ratan Tata, Chairman Emeritus of Tata Group and a well-known animal lover, is an advocate for the humane treatment of stray dogs. The Tata Group headquarters in Mumbai, called Bombay House, has a special section dedicated to stray dogs of the area.

At that Taj Mahal Hotel, the sight of the stray dog sleeping peacefully is proof that the establishment follows the same ethos of compassion towards animals. Khan pointed out that the luxury hotel is frequented by celebrities, businessmen and several important dignitaries – and yet it ensures that every being within its wall is treated with respect.

“This is the entrance of the Taj Mahal Hotel, one of the most luxurious and finest hotels in the country. During my stay, as I started my day, I noticed a living being sleeping peacefully in the same spot, seemingly carefree. My curiosity led me to ask the hotel staff about him, and I learned that he has been a part of the hotel since birth. There are strict instructions from Mr. Ratan Tata to treat these animals well if they enter the premises,” she wrote on LinkedIn.

“The entrance of such a prestigious establishment holds significant importance, and there he was, peacefully sleeping, perhaps unnoticed by many of the guests. Amidst the chaos, he owns the place, finding his sanctuary,” Khan added. She praised the work culture of the hotel, which falls under the Tata umbrella, for its treatment of the voiceless.

Taj Hotels’ response

As Rubi Khan’s post went viral on LinkedIn with over 5,000 ‘likes’ and hundreds of reactions, it also received a response from the Taj Group of hotels.

“Hi Rubi, thank you for sharing this story. At Taj, we value compassion and inclusion, ensuring every guest feels at home. Your reflections truly resonate with our core values,” Taj Hotels said in response to her post.

Other commenters also praised the hotel for providing a refuge to street dogs.

“Nicely put. If you go to Bombay House - somewhat a headquarters of the Tata group — in south Mumbai, you will notice the same. Strays moving in and out freely, with no unnecessary restrictions. They have been kind of adopted and are given respect and dignity of a home pet. Healthy co-existence,” wrote Pankaj Doval.

“Mr. Ratan Tata is a class apart. An industrialist, philanthropist, leader, visionary, and above all, a human-being beyond comparison,” said Ram Mishra in the comments section.