Cost not a concern for animal lovers

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.