China’s Old Ways Shift as Pet Industry Booms
Description
By Victoria Lim
August 12, 2008
GUANGZHOU, China -- Stroll through the famous Qingping Market, and change can be seen pawing its way through cages and crates. Furry faces up for sale as friends, instead of food.
“Change is so obvious in the past, I would say, five years,” China relations director Christie Yang of Animals Asia Foundation said. “More and more people -- families -- are raising dogs and cats as pets. It’s a totally new trend in China.”
And it’s a trend that has swept many other parts of the world that, for centuries, also treated what we considered common household pets as food. Dog meat was considered an emergency food source in some countries during times of famine, or as a delicacy with medicinal powers in many Asian countries, as well as Antarctica, Canada, France, Germany, Mexico, Nigeria and Switzerland.
Before the Olympic Games arrived, the Chinese government ordered Beijing restaurants to take dog off their menus, knowing its inclusion could offend tourists. The meat is traditionally cooked with herbs, with the belief that it helps keep the body warm.
“I really don’t think it’s necessary,” Yang said. “Even if you want to keep your body warm, there’s still many ways (to do it). You don’t need to eat dog meat to keep your body warm.”
That belief is spreading, as instead of serving platters, the sight of dogs trotting next to their adoring owners is becoming more common.
According to Euromonitor International, pet ownership in China grew 20 percent in five years, from 1999-2004. Just last year, 703,897 dogs were registered in Beijing, compared to 600,096 the year before. Euromonitor estimates country-wide, 26.8 million pet dogs are part of Chinese families’ homes.
The pet industry is a booming market in a country where owning a dog as a pet is considered a luxury. In 2004, $463 million was spent on pet food and pet care, according to Euromonitor. That number jumped to $870 million this year, up 15 percent from last year. By 2009, that number is projected to increase to $995 million.
Walking through the Qingping Market in Guangzhou, it’s easy to see why. Next to puppy filled cages, leashes, collars, carriers and even pet clothes can be found.
Yang credits China’s one-child policy as a contributor to the increase in pet ownership, as four-legged companions can help fill the empty-nest. While groups like AAF raise awareness of animal rights and the benefits of pet ownership.
Also, the country’s emerging economic power is another factor -- residents can now afford to own, feed, and care for pets.
“It’s very encouraging,” Yang said.
August 12, 2008
GUANGZHOU, China -- Stroll through the famous Qingping Market, and change can be seen pawing its way through cages and crates. Furry faces up for sale as friends, instead of food.
“Change is so obvious in the past, I would say, five years,” China relations director Christie Yang of Animals Asia Foundation said. “More and more people -- families -- are raising dogs and cats as pets. It’s a totally new trend in China.”
And it’s a trend that has swept many other parts of the world that, for centuries, also treated what we considered common household pets as food. Dog meat was considered an emergency food source in some countries during times of famine, or as a delicacy with medicinal powers in many Asian countries, as well as Antarctica, Canada, France, Germany, Mexico, Nigeria and Switzerland.
Before the Olympic Games arrived, the Chinese government ordered Beijing restaurants to take dog off their menus, knowing its inclusion could offend tourists. The meat is traditionally cooked with herbs, with the belief that it helps keep the body warm.
“I really don’t think it’s necessary,” Yang said. “Even if you want to keep your body warm, there’s still many ways (to do it). You don’t need to eat dog meat to keep your body warm.”
That belief is spreading, as instead of serving platters, the sight of dogs trotting next to their adoring owners is becoming more common.
According to Euromonitor International, pet ownership in China grew 20 percent in five years, from 1999-2004. Just last year, 703,897 dogs were registered in Beijing, compared to 600,096 the year before. Euromonitor estimates country-wide, 26.8 million pet dogs are part of Chinese families’ homes.
The pet industry is a booming market in a country where owning a dog as a pet is considered a luxury. In 2004, $463 million was spent on pet food and pet care, according to Euromonitor. That number jumped to $870 million this year, up 15 percent from last year. By 2009, that number is projected to increase to $995 million.
Walking through the Qingping Market in Guangzhou, it’s easy to see why. Next to puppy filled cages, leashes, collars, carriers and even pet clothes can be found.
Yang credits China’s one-child policy as a contributor to the increase in pet ownership, as four-legged companions can help fill the empty-nest. While groups like AAF raise awareness of animal rights and the benefits of pet ownership.
Also, the country’s emerging economic power is another factor -- residents can now afford to own, feed, and care for pets.
“It’s very encouraging,” Yang said.
