Off leash China s pet industry shines in ailing economy

BEIJING - Patterned poop bags, frilly dog dresses and exotic animals including minks and meerkats were on display at a bustling pet expo in Beijing, where the industry continues to thrive despite a sluggish economy.

China is battling slowing growth as a real-estate crisis, persistently low consumption and high youth unemployment plague the world’s second-biggest economy.

Yet the pet industry is one sector that has defied the downturn.

This week, throngs of pet lovers packed into large exhibition halls in Beijing’s suburbs, eager to shop for new furry companions and accessories ranging from pearl necklaces for cats to raincoats for dogs.

The expo runs until March 2 and has attracted thousands of pet lovers and businesses from all around China.

In one section of the fair, vendors showcased an array of exotic pets, including crabs and lizards – drawing in curious visitors.

Animal rights groups have raised concerns about the exotic pet trade, often linked to poor welfare standards.

The pandemic also sparked fears that animals may be carriers of diseases, including Covid-19, which was widely believed to have originated in bats.

But exotic pets remain popular in China, particularly among young people, with videos on how to raise them widely shared on local social media platforms.

At one booth, shop owner Zhao Tingting displayed colourful beds and transparent handbags, accessories specially designed to carry sugar gliders – a small, nocturnal possum she sells alongside other animals like meerkats.

A small crowd gathered around as a sugar glider nestled itself inside a worker’s hoodie, occasionally sticking its head out to peep at the mesmerised onlookers.

Ms Zhao cradled a meerkat dressed in a warm shirt in her arms. “Many people, as soon as they see this, feel that it’s soft, cuddly and extremely cute,” she told AFP.

“It can melt