The number of pets registered with the Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau reached 534,000 in July.

Beijing's citizens spend as much as 1.2 billion yuan on their pets each year, according to a conservative estimate based on the fact that the maintenance of animal costs around 100 yuan each month. However, this allowance does not cover any extras - a bath at a beauty parlor alone would cost more than that.

Almost all pet dogs being raised by Beijing residents were purchased.

The price of most pet dogs is between 2000 and 5000 yuan. Of course, some people buy a dog for just a few hundred yuan.

Pet hospitals are reaping the rewards of pet ownership, recording profits or more than 300 percent. Chinese pet hospitals have sprung up like bamboo shoots after spring rain in recent years. However, there is a lack of supervision and control of these hospitals. There are no medical records for animals and the price of medicine and treatment is high.

The number of pets in China has reached 100 million and includes cats, dogs, fish and other animals. The profits from China's pet market may be as much as 15 billion yuan, say some researchers.

An expert says that the number of pets in China will increase to 150 million and the profits of the pet industry are expected to reach 40 billion yuan by 2010.

A sociologist says excessive consumption by pets should not be advocated. This is a waste of resources to some extent. Measures should be taken to ensure the pet market develops moderately.

(People's Daily September 8, 2006)