Boarding rooms in a chain pet hotel in Shenzhen, which has branches in Futian and Nanshan districts. File photo

Staffers take care of pet dogs in a pet hotel in Nanshan District. Sun Yuchen

A pet garden in Longgang District is equipped with a swimming pool for dogs to exercise in. File photo

The Spring Festival break has unleashed massive demand for pet boarding services as millions of pet owners were unable to take their dogs or cats with them on their journeys back to their hometowns. To secure the safety of their furry friends, many pet owners chose professional boarding services.

A pet garden in Henggang Subdistrict, Longgang District, informed Shenzhen Daily that all 170 of its separate rooms designed for pet boarding were fully booked one week before the Spring Festival.

One hundred of these rooms are "dog dorms" equipped with video surveillance systems that allow owners to see their beloved pets' daily lives while they are away. In addition, the garden has a sizable playground and a swimming area where dogs can play and exercise.

Another pet chain hotel in Shenzhen, with branches in Futian and Nanshan, also experienced a dramatic increase in demand.

Rising prices

During the Spring Festival, boarding fees in most pet motels skyrocketed. Prices varied depending on the geographical location, accommodation quality, and degree of care provided.

The above-mentioned pet chain hotel stated that the largest room they offer for a dog is 1.2 meters by 1.7 meters. The standard rate for this accommodation is 198 yuan (US$27.5) per day. However, during the Spring Festival, its rate doubled to 396 yuan per day. In addition to basic services such as feeding, cleaning, monitoring the health of pets, and providing daily outdoor activities for dogs, the staff will send daily recordings of pets to their owners.

Another pet shop in an urban village in Futian District offers boarding services for dogs at a price of 80 yuan per day. However, during the Spring Festival, the price increased by 50% to 120 yuan per day.

The pet garden in Henggang charges between 100 and 120 yuan per day for dogs, depending on their sizes. The garden does not raise its prices during holidays, but exclusively offers its services to members during peak demand periods such as the Spring Festival. To become a member, pet owners need to purchase a prepaid service card worth 3,000 yuan or more.

Many pet owners were willing to dig deep into their pockets to ensure a quality environment for their furry companions. However, some were taken aback by the unexpected price hikes.

"I spent several thousand yuan for my golden retriever's 10-day boarding during the holiday, which is much more expensive than my apartment rent considering the pet room's size," a pet owner in Futian District said.

Growing market

In 2023, the number of pet dogs in China reached 51.75 million, a year-on-year increase of 1.1%, and the number of pet cats hit 69.8 million, an increase of 6.8%, according to an industry white paper released in December last year by market researcher and information provider petdata.cn. 

The pet-related economy in Shenzhen also continues to thrive. According to calculations by the China (Shenzhen) Comprehensive Development Research Institute, there are currently over 500,000 pet cats and dogs in Shenzhen. Based on an average annual consumption of 5,000 yuan for dogs and 4,000 yuan for cats in Shenzhen, the annual consumption in the city could reach 2.5 billion yuan, as estimated by the institute.

According to Qichacha data, there are currently 102,000 pet-related enterprises in Shenzhen. Over the past 10 years, the number of registered pet-related enterprises in Shenzhen has shown a positive growth trend. From 2021 to 2023, the annual number of newly registered pet-related enterprises increased by 16,285, 13,356, and 18,743, respectively, representing year-on-year growth rates of 31%, 20%, and 23%, respectively.

Call for regulation

As the market grows, disputes related to pet boarding services have also increased. Experts point out that the pet industry needs further regulation and the establishment of industry standards to promote its sustainable development.

Chen Yinjiang, deputy secretary-general of the China Law Society for the Protection of Consumer Rights and Interests, noted that there are currently no detailed standards for pet boarding services at the national level. 

Establishing such standards is challenging due to the varying characteristics of these services. Chen suggested that relevant industry organizations and regulatory authorities explore the possibility of establishing industry standards and regulatory systems while taking into account the actual situation.

Rao Wei, a senior partner at Beijing Tianchi Juntai Law Firm, said that disputes arise when pets experience health issues, injuries, or even death during the boarding period. Pets may also experience stress when in new environment that can affect their health, leading to disputes. Pet boarding services constitute a civil contractual relationship between pet owners and caretakers, Rao said.

To better protect the rights of pet owners, he suggested that owners should reach a written agreement with caretakers before boarding their pets. In the case of disputes, consumers can lodge complaints with consumer protection associations or seek legal remedies to protect their rights.

When seeking legal support, owners should present written agreements, communication records, and pet health information as evidence.