Luxury hotels for furry guests boom

[Photo by Zou Hong / China Daily]

In Shanghai, pampered pooches don't have to be relegated to spending the holiday in a cage. Instead, they can enjoy self-described five-star luxury hotels designed just for canines. That means private suites ranging from 1 to 4 square meters each; individual, 24-hour butler services; daily housecleaning and a heated swimming pool.

"Pets have become such an integral part of the life of many urbanites that when the owners are on vacation, they want to make sure the animals are given the same treatment," said Qi Jing, who owns Qian Xiaoyang's Pet Hotel in Shanghai.

The hotel charges 580 yuan a night, arguably the most expensive in town and about three times the average price of dog accommodations. Her hotel, located in Shanghai's central Bund area, can accommodate 13 dogs at one time and is staffed by an equal number of caretakers.

All 13 suites were booked for the Spring Festival holiday by early December, and Qi said she has had to turn down scores of inquiries over the past two weeks.

In addition to luxury suites, some budget pet accommodation have also doubled their prices, given the large demand.

A pet hospital providing foster care service in Changsha, capital of Hunan province, normally charges 40 yuan a day for taking care of an adult cat. The price will jump to 80 yuan from Jan 26 to 30.

Feng Zhiwei in Changsha contributed to this story.

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