Cost not a concern for animal lovers

Rudijanto, Contributor, Jakarta

The marital vow, to be faithful to one's spouse in times of joy and sorrow, seems to be applicable to bringing a new pet into the family. Even while their owners struggle to pay household bills, pets are pampered, manicured, and sport the latest accessories, -- if the surge in pet shops, pet clinics and grooming saloons is any indication.

While the 1998 economic crisis hampered many other business activities, pet-related businesses in Jakarta grew steadily in number.

The bond between owner and pet is often so strong that a tight household budget is not consistent with the lavish care bestowed upon the puppy, bird, goldfish or whatever other creature is the object of affection.

"Pet-owners were not affected at all by the crisis. I even observed that when the value of the rupiah dived they spent even more on their pets," said veterinarian Ida Sunar Indarti of Anyelir Pet Clinic, Shop and Grooming Salon located in Jakarta's Cijantung area.

No doubt there are many theories, including psychological, that can explain the correlation between the rise of the U.S. dollar and pet-care. Pet-related businesses, it seems, are crisis-free.

Players in this sector include owners of pet-clinics and salons, veterinarians and importers of pets, as well as food and accessories. While many accessories are produced locally, most canned food is still imported, mostly from the U.S., Australia and Thailand.

"I believe the market for dry dog-food is bright because Indonesia has one of the biggest populations of well-cared for dogs in Southeast Asia. Here, we have between 3,000-5,000 well- cared for dogs, greater than the number in Singapore," Ida said.

Price seems to be no obstacle for many animal-lovers. Most pet-owners understand that a pet needs constant care.

"The price of a six-week-old puppy is around Rp 5 million (about US$585). Mostly, these German Shepherd and Golden Retriever puppies are bred locally. But I heard someone imported a two-year-old bitch for breeding purposes for Rp 240 million," said Taing F. Nasution, another veterinarian.

Taing explained that puppies need a series of vaccinations; even as an adult, annual vaccinations are a must. The first series of vaccinations can cost up to Rp 500,000, while annual vaccinations are usually around Rp 200,000.

Pet-food is also an ongoing cost; dry food and puppy-milk can cost as much as Rp 1 million each month.

Mos of pet shops and clinics are located in South Jakarta's elite Kebayoran and Pondok Indah areas which are lined with the mansions of the super-rich. The number of pet-grooming salons and veterinarian clinics that have cropped up in these areas seem to go hand-in-hand with the expensive cars, swimming pools and other signs of luxury that have become commonplace.

Boarding kennels also look set to boom here. Many people plan to go away for the Idul Fitri, Christmas and year-end holidays, but are unable to take their pets with them.

Ida's clinic has a more personalized approach to the boarding kennel, with a small number of pets accommodated at one time. She also looks after pets who have undergone intensive medical treatment and need to stay for some days in the clinic. In addition, she can take care of the processing of pet-related documents, especially import and export documents.

As animal-lovers grow in number, so too do pet-related businesses. Among all animals, dogs remain the most companionable. This year, two breeds, the Golden Retriever and the Labrador, worked their way to the top of the list, or into the hearts of Jakarta's elite. But poodles and other small breeds are still well-liked.

"People's choice of dog depends on the size of their house. People with big houses tend to prefer breeds such as Golden Retrievers and Labradors, while those with smaller houses choose poodles and the like," Ida said.

Although dogs are more popular than cats, Ismono Lukito of the Christin Grooming Salon revealed that the number of cat-owners has increased this year. Persian and Angora cats being the most sought after.

"It's not true that only old ladies love cats, nowadays cat- lovers come from all walks of life," said Ismono.

While nobody questions the bond between a man and his dog, reptiles, such as snakes and iguanas, seem unlovable to some. However, people do make snakes and iguanas their pets.

"People like them because they look exotic. In terms of snakes, the most popular are albino snakes -- which are a yellowish color -- and tree snakes. But I think the snake craze has come and gone. Snakes were popular between 1995-2000," said Ida.

Unlike cats and dogs that may require imported food, snakes and iguanas consume fresh food that can be purchased locally. But unlike cats and dogs that have the knowledge of veterinarians to rely on when they get sick, snakes, iguanas and, particularly, fish are not so lucky.

Veterinarian Taing of Kelapa 2 Pets Healthcare Services admits that her veterinarian school puts more emphasis on studying dogs and cats.

"When treating fish, I must rely on my own research and usually ask for a second opinion from other veterinarians," said Taing.

The Lou Han fish (Cichlasoma sp) is a new breed that has captured the imagination of many Indonesians. With markings on their bodies that resemble Chinese characters, the price of Lou Han fish may reach more than a hundred million rupiah.

When the markings on Lou Han fish resemble certain Chinese characters meaning happiness or prosperity, or even certain numbers, the price of such fish will soar.

Veterinarians and other pet-related services would do well to specialize, and cater for rarities such as the albino snake and the Lou Han fish, rather than just dogs and cats. If they can match the demands of the market, business will continue to boom.