From Bangkok Post
HANOI – On a summer evening in central Hanoi, 22-year-old Son relaxes with his girlfriend as their pet poodle Bean plays on the grass among a menagerie of dogs including huskies, a Doberman and a pitbull-mix.
A boy sits next to his dog at a street in Hanoi, Vietnam Aug 18. Vietnam’s pet industry is booming — more dog trainers and groomers are opening across the country, with some online dog clubs attracting thousands of members. (EPA photo)
“Lots of people bring their dogs here,” says Son, a driver. “In the afternoon it’s cool and Bean likes to swim in the pond.”
Son is among a rising number of pet owners in Vietnam, where dogs are more traditionally used for their meat. That tradition is coming under some scrutiny, but seems not be holding back the growth of the pet sector.
The first pet store opened in Saigon in 2006; now there are around 50 there and dozens in Hanoi, says Wayne Capriotto, director of marketing agency Digi-escape Vietnam, which focuses on the up-and-coming pet sector.
“A lot of people have these dogs and want to show them off, that’s the new generation of wealth, but there’s the companionship too,” he says.
Bean cost Son around $75, not so expensive for a pedigree. But looking after the dog is cheap, apart from the occasional splurge. “I spend up to $25 getting him groomed,” his owner says.
As disposable incomes rise, dogs and cats are becoming status symbols, especially Western breeds, and being treated more like members of the family.
One man harnessing this trend is 34-year-old Texan Ricky Forester, who founded training school Alpha Dog in the capital two years ago, and has moved to bigger premises twice to keep up with demand.
“When I first started, everyone told me there wasn’t high-enough demand, people weren’t going to appreciate the service. Of course they were completely wrong,” he says. “People are really, really turning towards more of a dog-loving society instead of keeping them locked in cages or on chains.”
But Vietnam is still a nation of dog eaters. Every year around 5 million animals are slaughtered for the trade, according to the Asia Canine Protection Alliance. Many are strays captured from rural areas, often from neighbouring countries, or stolen, with dog thefts getting increasing coverage in local media.
Read the full article from Bangkok Post.
