BEIJING – Yan Jinsheng still treasures the old dog license and pet name plate of the dog he raised nearly 40 years ago.
“Back then, it cost 5,000 yuan ($708.54) to own a dog in the city. Purebred dogs were a luxury for common people,” said a 47-year-old pet lover from northern China. Tianjin city.
In the 1990s, international pet brands began to enter the Chinese market, but domestic brands were virtually non-existent. However, since 2000, the number of pets in China has skyrocketed, and pet owners have come to value their pets for emotional companionship rather than simply keeping them for home security. This change has facilitated the rapid growth of China’s pet economy.
Mr. Yang, who previously worked in the automotive industry, saw the potential of the emerging pet industry and in 2013 shifted his focus to a retail store, pet services such as grooming and training, with headquarters in Beijing’s Tongzhou district. Established Favor Pets, a chain brand that provides. .
China’s pet economy has been booming in recent years, with domestic brands selling pet food, various pet supplies, and pet health care rapidly expanding. Favor Pets is a prime example, currently operating more than 2,000 stores in cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, and Chengdu.
According to an industry report, in 2023, the number of domestic dogs in China will reach 51.75 million, and the number of pet cats will reach 69.8 million. The urban pet (dog and cat) consumption market is expected to grow to 279.3 billion yuan in 2023, an increase of 3.2% compared to 2022, and reach 361.3 billion yuan by 2026.
Although barbaric practices such as dog attacks and pet abuse and abandonment still occur from time to time in China, the rapid expansion of the pet market has led to a marked increase in responsible pet ownership.
Yang pointed out that today’s pet owners are increasingly aware of their responsibilities, such as vaccinating their pets and registering pet licenses. “Obtaining a pet license used to be expensive and inconvenient, but now it’s much cheaper and easier as you can apply at your local police station for just a few hundred yuan,” he explained. I did.
Lang Qingrui, director of Yituo Pet Studio in Beijing’s Chaoyang District, has been working in the pet industry for eight years. He has noticed that more dog owners are now using leashes when walking their dogs and training their pets to relieve themselves in regular locations, thereby reducing distress in the surrounding community. Ta.
China’s pet training field is also gaining momentum. According to business information platform Qichacha, there are currently more than 28,000 companies in China with the hashtag “pet training” in their names or business descriptions, and 6,559 new companies will open in 2023 alone.
In 2019, Yang launched the “Pet Kindergarten Program.” This is an educational initiative focused on teaching pet training and correct social behavior while also helping pet owners better understand the physical behaviors and signals displayed by their furry friends. It is.
“Pet owners need education on proper care, but pets need socialization training to correct undesirable behaviors in a timely manner,” said Li Yabin, dog owner at Favor Pets. says. “This helps people and pets coexist harmoniously.”
Growing awareness of “responsible ownership” has made Chinese society more accepting of pets, with more pet-friendly shopping malls, hotels and parks.
Beijing resident Zhou Jingru recently took her little corgi to DT51, a new shopping mall that offers free pet strollers to shoppers.
“It was a great experience! I’ve always wanted to take him to more places. The stroller comes with a urine pad and a lid, so people who aren’t afraid of dogs don’t have to worry about it.” 27 age.
Associate Professor Wu Yi of the School of Animal Science and Technology at China Agricultural University pointed out that creating a harmonious environment where humans and pets can coexist requires the efforts of society as a whole.
In addition to regulating the responsibilities of pet owners and strengthening pet training, he also promotes pet kindness through the media and the Internet, and calls for better laws and regulations to protect public safety and interests. He added that advocacy is essential. .
