Pet care has become big business in China, and it is growing all the time. A touring pet festival has just concluded its Beijing stop, with 150 companies offering a wide range of products and services. Dog-walking, photography, and even pet bus rides are now on offer.
Big or small, cute or cool, every pet is a winner in the eyes of its owners. The three-day festival drew nearly 50,000 visitors, and most of them brought a furry friend.
Listen, an eight-month-old Bedlington Terrie, is a head-turner wherever he goes, but he is not stopping to soak in the adulation today. For today sees the Pedigree Kennel Competition. And Listen was rewarded with Best In Show, the youngest Bedlinton ever to receive the honor.
But you do not have to get awards at the Pet Festival to be treated like a winner. Here, your owner can purchase food for you, along with toys and other treats.
The pet fair has been touring China for two years, and it is riding the crest of a wave. The number of pet owners in China is approaching 100 million, meaning one out of every 13 people, and the number is growing rapidly.
Pet photography, dog-walking services, and even bus trips for pets are on offer from online vendors. And some platforms, such as the "Where are we going, Doggie?" app, are also talking about pet advocacy.
Meanwhile, pet ownership is diversifying in terms of species. The Beijing Pet Festival provides visitors a chance to see, or even buy, some more exotic animals only seen before in zoos or on TV, like the little Angora ferret.
