The Story Behind Canisamicus – A Pack with a Purpose! 🐾

It all started with Arindam Nandy, a civil engineer by profession but a dog person at heart. Having spent over 35 years with dogs, including 9 years with Labradors, he was fascinated by their intelligence, loyalty, and unwavering devotion. But one Labrador stole his heart—Gracy. Now 9 years old, she has been with Arindam since she was just a 4-month-old pup. Raising her, watching her gentle, intuitive nature, and seeing how she connected with people planted the seed of a bigger dream—building a structured service dog program in India.

But making this dream real needed more than wagging tails and good intentions—it needed science, expertise, and a strong pack to run with. That’s when Suvosree Bhattacharya, a clinical psychologist, joined the journey. She saw the magic in Animal-Assisted Interventions (AAI) and understood that this needed a structured, evidence-backed approach. She led Arindam to someone who could guide them—Dr. Anjan Bhattacharya, a leading developmental pediatrician specializing in early intervention for neurodevelopmental disorders.

Dr. Bhattacharya didn’t just see the vision—he gave it structure. He guided Arindam through formal education in neurodevelopmental disorders, leading him to study Post Graduate Diploma in Early Intervention for Neurodevelopmental Disorders. Now, it wasn’t just a passion project—it was backed by science, research, and a roadmap to making real change.

But every strong pack needs a solid backbone. Dr. Bhattacharya suggested bringing in Megha Goenka, a clinical psychologist and an emerging entrepreneur, to help build Canisamicus into something bigger than just an idea. Megha brought scientific insight, structure, and the leadership to shape Canisamicus into a full-fledged movement.

And so, the pack was formed! With paws, purpose, and a mission to bridge the gap between neurodevelopmental needs and the power of dogs, Canisamicus Foundation became the first-of-its-kind initiative in India.

The journey has just begun, and with every wag, woof, and pawprint, we’re shaping a future where service dogs change lives—one tail wag at a time! 🐾✨

Meet the Team

  • Arindam Nandy

    Director & CEO

    By day, Arindam is a civil engineer, but by heart, he’s a certified Therapy Animal Handler (Pet Partners, USA) and a lifelong dog enthusiast. He’s the one leading our therapy dog and AAI programs, mixing strategy, science, and an unshakable love for dogs to create something truly groundbreaking.

    With innovation in one hand and a leash in the other, he’s on a mission to redefine human-canine connections in India—one paw at a time! 🐾✨

  • Suvosree Bhattacharya

    Director & Research Lead

    With a Master’s and MPhil in Clinical Psychology, Suvosree Bhattacharya is the powerhouse behind our research on therapy dog efficacy and Animal-Assisted Therapies. She’s the one making sure our programs aren’t just heartwarming but scientifically sound, ethical, and truly impactful.

    From setting rigorous standards to crafting high-impact interventions, she’s all about making human-canine partnerships more effective and meaningful—one breakthrough at a time! 🐾✨

  • Megha Goenka

    Director & COO

    With a Master’s in Psychology and expertise in Early Intervention, Megha is all about making therapy-driven solutions work for neurodivergent children. She ensures our training protocols aren’t just effective but also enrich every human-animal bond in the best way possible.

    From fine-tuning interventions to fostering meaningful connections, she’s helping shape a future where every wag and woof makes a difference! 🐾✨

  • Sonali Nandy

    Director & Kennel Incharge

    From the moment they’re born, Sonali is there with a caring, motherly touch, nurturing our puppies into confident, well-socialized future service dogs. With meticulous attention to growth, welfare, and socialization, she ensures that every pup is ready to shine in Animal-Assisted Interventions.

    With love, patience, and a whole lot of belly rubs, she’s shaping the next generation of life-changing canine companions—one tiny paw at a time! 🐾✨

Our Collaborations – Stronger Together! 🐾

Being the first-of-its-kind program in India, Canisamicus isn’t just about wagging tails—we’re also sniffing out exciting research opportunities! That’s why we’ve teamed up with some incredible minds and mentors to make sure our program is top-dog in every way.

🐾 DOGLAB of IISER Kolkata – The Brainiacs of Animal Smarts!
We’ve joined paws with the scientists of DOGLAB at IISER Kolkata, who geek out over animal cognition and behavior. Together, we’re unlocking the mysteries of what makes a great therapy and service dog—from intelligence to temperament.

🐾 Nabajatak Child Development Center – Where Human Growth Meets Wagging Tails!
Since our mission is to help people, we’ve partnered with Nabajatak Child Development Center, where clinical experts and Assistance Dogs work together to create life-changing interventions for neurodivergent individuals.

🐾 International Breeders & Trainers – Our Global Pack of Mentors!
We’ve got some of the best breeders and dog specialists from around the world guiding us, helping us bring in top-tier therapy dog genes and tried-and-tested training methods.

With science, collaboration, and a whole lot of pawsitive energy, we’re shaping the future of service dogs and AAI in India—one wag at a time! 🐾✨

Building an Ethical & Scientific Foundation

To ensure our research stays top-notch, ethical, and globally aligned, Canisamicus is forming an Institutional Animal Ethics Committee (IAEC) under CCSEA guidelines. This ensures that every aspect of our work—from breeding to Animal-Assisted Interventions—meets the highest standards of animal welfare and scientific integrity.

Current Members 🏅

🐾 Dr. Saroj Mukherjee, MVSc – Veterinary Medicine & Animal Welfare

🐾 Dr. Kunal Chakroborty, MVSc – Veterinary Science & Research
🐾 Dr. Anindita Basu, BVSc – Animal Care & Ethical Practices

🐾 Dr. Rajarshi Ghosh, PhD – Animal Biologist

By bringing together leading experts and ethical oversight, Canisamicus ensures that every wag, woof, and breakthrough we make is rooted in responsible, evidence-based science. 🐾✨