Pets: The new children!

Kids in your future? Need a practice run- try a pet!
Or, no kids? Pets make a good substitute. How about fish?

In Taiwan small dogs have become a kind of must-have for those either thinking of having kids and those who know they will never have any. Small dogs like Pomeranians, Chihuahuas, Shih Tzu, and Westies (West Highland White Terriers), Yorkies (Yorkshire Terriers), and Bichon Frisé, are so popular in Taiwan.

The most expensive breed of dog is the English Bulldog- at about NT$60,000 to NT$130,000 per puppy.

The most expensive pet of all is the Lifestyle Pets Ashera cat at US$22,000. This mid-sized cat is cross-breed between feral, or wild cats, and domestic (house) cats.

Are you a pet person?? If so, are you a dog person or a cat person? Siamese and Persian cats are the two most popular act breeds, though there are dozens.

In the US people spend around $38.4 billion dollars on a total of around 167 million dogs and cats. That’s about $8000 per pet. Not a small amount of money!!

Unlike in Taiwan, Americans also can get insurance for their pet!! Owners can get insurance for their dogs and cats for a fixed monthly or yearly rate of $9 to $200. The insurance covers many typical things just like health insurance for people.

People love their pets so much but can’t take them everywhere, so pet hotels have become more and more popular recently- a twist on the usual pet boarding services, or kennels, these hotels offer luxury facilities including special beds, plasma TVs, massages, indoor pools, and more. One of these “five star” pet hotels, called Wag Hotels isn’t cheap, though. The average for a luxury suite and daycare for your pet will cost you about $100-$150 a day.