Pet sitting services rake in money during Tet holiday.

Many Chinese people own pets, but the inability to bring them back to their hometowns or travel during the Lunar New Year holiday has caused pet care services to skyrocket.

On popular pet service platforms like Xianyu and Maooo, pet sitting prices have been seen to be 20% to 50% higher than usual.

In Shanghai, Qiuzhang Xizi said she was quoted 150 yuan (approximately 515,000 VND) per day for pet-sitting services at a local shop for her two cats – 25% higher than usual.

In Beijing, pet boarding fees have increased by 40%, to 599 yuan (approximately 2 million VND) per day. Monthly fees have reached 5,400 yuan (approximately 18.5 million VND), even higher than the monthly rent for an apartment. At some veterinary hospitals in Shanghai, the daily care fee for a small animal is 120 yuan (approximately 410,000 VND), while for larger animals, the fee is 180 yuan (approximately 620,000 VND).

A staff member at a pet hotel in Changchun, Jilin province, is in charge of caring for 16 pet dogs throughout the Lunar New Year holiday. Photo: China Daily — A staff member at a pet hotel in Changchun, Jilin province, is in charge of caring for 16 pet dogs throughout the Lunar New Year holiday. Photo: *China Daily*

A pet shop in Shanghai reported receiving 310 orders for in-home cat care during the week-long Lunar New Year holiday. Since the holiday, the shop has been charging new customers 50% more than usual.

"One of our cat groomers will visit at least 40 homes a day, spending 20 minutes at each home or three homes every hour. If the homeowner has many requests, it could take more than an hour," a store employee said.

Pet care services are in particularly high demand in China's first-tier cities, where about half of all pet owners are concentrated. According to industry data, the number of pets in China increased by 2.7% year-on-year in 2020, reaching nearly 200 million.

This lucrative business has led some people to seek ways to make money by offering pet sitting or grooming services, which are widely shared on social media.

Wang Lei, a 30-year-old insurance broker in Zhongshan, southern Guangdong province, tried his hand at pet sitting for the first time because he couldn't go home for the Lunar New Year. So far, he has found 23 clients, with 16 homes. Some amateur pet sitters say they also earned thousands of yuan during this Lunar New Year.

However, authorities also warned 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 )

Source