Many Chinese people keep pets, but the inability to take them home or travel during the Lunar New Year has sent pet care prices soaring.
On popular pet service platforms like Xianyu and Maooo, pet sitting prices are reportedly 20% to 50% higher than usual.
In Shanghai, Qiuzhang Xizi said she was quoted 150 yuan ($23) a day for pet-sitting services at a local store for her two cats – 25% higher than usual.
In Beijing, pet care fees have increased by 40% to 599 yuan (US$85) a day. Monthly care fees are up to 5,400 yuan (US$75), which is more than the monthly rent for an apartment. At some veterinary hospitals in Shanghai, daily care fees for a small animal are 120 yuan (US$18), while for larger animals, the fee is 180 yuan (US$26).
A staff member at a pet hotel in Changchun, Jilin Province, takes care of 16 pet dogs during the Lunar New Year holiday. Photo: China Daily
A pet store in Shanghai said it received 310 orders for cat care services during the week-long holiday. Since the holiday, the store has been charging new customers 50% more than usual.
"One of our cat sitters will visit at least 40 homes a day, spending 20 minutes at each home or three homes an hour. If the owner has many requests, it can take more than an hour," said a staff member at the store.
Pet care services are in particularly high demand in China's first-tier cities, where about half of all pet owners are located. The number of pets in China rose 2.7% year-on-year in 2020 to nearly 200 million, according to industry data.
This lucrative business has led to some people finding ways to make money, through providing pet sitting or grooming services, which has been widely shared on social media.
Wang Lei, a 30-year-old insurance broker in Zhongshan, southern Guangdong province, is trying his hand at pet sitting for the first time because he is not home for the Spring Festival. He has so far found 23 clients, with 16 homes. Some amateur pet sitters say they have also earned thousands of yuan during the holiday.
However, authorities also warn of the risks of using services from the fledgling pet care industry, which still lacks formal standards and regulations.
On February 8, the consumer protection council in eastern Jiangsu Province urged pet owners to be wary of pet service providers raising prices “sky high.” In a WeChat post, the Jiangsu Consumer Council called on relevant departments to issue industry standards and management methods “as soon as possible.”
Thuy Linh (According to Sixthtone )
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