Cost not a concern for animal lovers<\/p>\n
Rudijanto, Contributor, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The marital vow, to be faithful to one's spouse in times of
\njoy and sorrow, seems to be applicable to bringing a new pet into
\nthe family. Even while their owners struggle to pay household
\nbills, pets are pampered, manicured, and sport the latest
\naccessories, -- if the surge in pet shops, pet clinics and
\ngrooming saloons is any indication.<\/p>\n
While the 1998 economic crisis hampered many other business
\nactivities, pet-related businesses in Jakarta grew steadily in
\nnumber.<\/p>\n
The bond between owner and pet is often so strong that a tight
\nhousehold budget is not consistent with the lavish care bestowed
\nupon the puppy, bird, goldfish or whatever other creature is the
\nobject of affection.<\/p>\n
"Pet-owners were not affected at all by the crisis. I even
\nobserved that when the value of the rupiah dived they spent even
\nmore on their pets," said veterinarian Ida Sunar Indarti of
\nAnyelir Pet Clinic, Shop and Grooming Salon located in Jakarta's
\nCijantung area.<\/p>\n
No doubt there are many theories, including psychological,
\nthat can explain the correlation between the rise of the U.S.
\ndollar and pet-care. Pet-related businesses, it seems, are
\ncrisis-free.<\/p>\n
Players in this sector include owners of pet-clinics and
\nsalons, veterinarians and importers of pets, as well as food and
\naccessories. While many accessories are produced locally, most
\ncanned food is still imported, mostly from the U.S., Australia
\nand Thailand.<\/p>\n
"I believe the market for dry dog-food is bright because
\nIndonesia has one of the biggest populations of well-cared for
\ndogs in Southeast Asia. Here, we have between 3,000-5,000 well-
\ncared for dogs, greater than the number in Singapore," Ida said.<\/p>\n
Price seems to be no obstacle for many animal-lovers. Most
\npet-owners understand that a pet needs constant care.<\/p>\n
"The price of a six-week-old puppy is around Rp 5 million
\n(about US$585). Mostly, these German Shepherd and Golden
\nRetriever puppies are bred locally. But I heard someone imported
\na two-year-old bitch for breeding purposes for Rp 240 million,"
\nsaid Taing F. Nasution, another veterinarian.<\/p>\n
Taing explained that puppies need a series of vaccinations;
\neven as an adult, annual vaccinations are a must. The first
\nseries of vaccinations can cost up to Rp 500,000, while annual
\nvaccinations are usually around Rp 200,000.<\/p>\n
Pet-food is also an ongoing cost; dry food and puppy-milk can
\ncost as much as Rp 1 million each month.<\/p>\n
Mos of pet shops and clinics are located in South Jakarta's
\nelite Kebayoran and Pondok Indah areas which are lined with the
\nmansions of the super-rich. The number of pet-grooming salons and
\nveterinarian clinics that have cropped up in these areas seem to
\ngo hand-in-hand with the expensive cars, swimming pools and other
\nsigns of luxury that have become commonplace.<\/p>\n
Boarding kennels also look set to boom here. Many people plan
\nto go away for the Idul Fitri, Christmas and year-end holidays,
\nbut are unable to take their pets with them.<\/p>\n
Ida's clinic has a more personalized approach to the boarding
\nkennel, with a small number of pets accommodated at one time. She
\nalso looks after pets who have undergone intensive medical
\ntreatment and need to stay for some days in the clinic. In
\naddition, she can take care of the processing of pet-related
\ndocuments, especially import and export documents.<\/p>\n
As animal-lovers grow in number, so too do pet-related
\nbusinesses. Among all animals, dogs remain the most
\ncompanionable. This year, two breeds, the Golden Retriever and
\nthe Labrador, worked their way to the top of the list, or into
\nthe hearts of Jakarta's elite. But poodles and other small breeds
\nare still well-liked.<\/p>\n
"People's choice of dog depends on the size of their house.
\nPeople with big houses tend to prefer breeds such as Golden
\nRetrievers and Labradors, while those with smaller houses choose
\npoodles and the like," Ida said.<\/p>\n
Although dogs are more popular than cats, Ismono Lukito of the
\nChristin Grooming Salon revealed that the number of cat-owners
\nhas increased this year. Persian and Angora cats being the most
\nsought after.<\/p>\n
"It's not true that only old ladies love cats, nowadays cat-
\nlovers come from all walks of life," said Ismono.<\/p>\n
While nobody questions the bond between a man and his dog,
\nreptiles, such as snakes and iguanas, seem unlovable to some.
\nHowever, people do make snakes and iguanas their pets.<\/p>\n
"People like them because they look exotic. In terms of
\nsnakes, the most popular are albino snakes -- which are a
\nyellowish color -- and tree snakes. But I think the snake craze
\nhas come and gone. Snakes were popular between 1995-2000," said
\nIda.<\/p>\n
Unlike cats and dogs that may require imported food, snakes
\nand iguanas consume fresh food that can be purchased locally. But
\nunlike cats and dogs that have the knowledge of veterinarians to
\nrely on when they get sick, snakes, iguanas and, particularly,
\nfish are not so lucky.<\/p>\n
Veterinarian Taing of Kelapa 2 Pets Healthcare Services admits
\nthat her veterinarian school puts more emphasis on studying dogs
\nand cats.<\/p>\n
"When treating fish, I must rely on my own research and
\nusually ask for a second opinion from other veterinarians," said
\nTaing.<\/p>\n
The Lou Han fish (Cichlasoma sp) is a new breed that has
\ncaptured the imagination of many Indonesians. With markings on
\ntheir bodies that resemble Chinese characters, the price of Lou
\nHan fish may reach more than a hundred million rupiah.<\/p>\n
When the markings on Lou Han fish resemble certain Chinese
\ncharacters meaning happiness or prosperity, or even certain
\nnumbers, the price of such fish will soar.<\/p>\n
Veterinarians and other pet-related services would do well to
\nspecialize, and cater for rarities such as the albino snake and
\nthe Lou Han fish, rather than just dogs and cats. If they can
\nmatch the demands of the market, business will continue to boom.<\/p>",
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