October 2011

Pet projects

By Casey Hall and Nicky Almasy

Pets are big business in China, and entrepreneurs around the country are catering to the four-legged friends and their owners

James Holder

Veterinary director for Shanghai PAW Vet Clinic
www.pawvet.com

When James Holder's ex-girlfriend sent him a job ad about the PAW veterinary clinic in Shanghai, he said it was a “no brainer” for him to apply.

“My first impressions of animal care in China were pretty terrible, but not that different in individual cases from anywhere else. But China just seemed on average worse than other places. Since then, the industry has become more regulated but it's still in its infancy. Until there is government legislation for animal welfare, in my mind China will always be struggling. Unfortunately, it seems that money is the driver for the pet industry at the moment. The best thing about my job is being able to help those in need – and meeting lots of different personalities – both animals and people. We have variety on a day-to-day basis that I have never seen anywhere else. Our ambition is to grow and spread our standard of care to a wider population, so we continue to strive to develop and improve internally. In the near future we hope to open a hospital in Pudong.”

Barbara Delaney

Co-founder of Bark Shanghai
www.barkshanghai.com

When Barbara Delaney arrived in Shanghai, she had a hard time finding great local dog grooming and boarding services. She saw a gap in the market, and immediately sat down to write the business plan for the shop that would become Bark Shanghai.

“Our business is about giving our customers excellent service, and to go beyond what is expected. We accommodate the diversity of needs that newcomers to Shanghai have regarding their dogs and cats. We have details for all customers and their pets listed in our database where we can identify the client quickly and accurately to streamline our service. Most of our customers are expats, but many of our VIP customers are Chinese, and lots have been with us for five years or more. All customer emails are personally answered by me, even when I am away on holiday. My business partner and I decided from the start that one of us will be in the shop at all times – especially peak hours – to ensure every dog receives quality care. We endeavour to continue our open relationship with our clients, and to meet them personally as often as possible. As opportunities develop we will always adapt to change."

Sabrina Feng

Founder, director and dog trainer at Pet-in-Shanghai
www.petinshanghai.com

After working for a pet relocation company, Sabrina Feng decided to start her own pet-related business in China. Pet-in-Shanghai now provides services including pet sitting, dog training and registration.

“When I finished working at the pet relocation company, one of my foreign friends introduced me to her friend, who had a very cute dog and three cats. That's how I started my business. She then introduced me to her neighbor and her friends, so that's how my business expanded. Then I went to Beijing to get my dog-training license and make the service more professional. Now we are a team with four full-time employees (including one very good dog trainer) and some part-time pet lovers.

Most of my customers are foreigners, but now local people more focused on pet ownership, especially young people. They pay a lot of attention to the pet's health and even dog training. In the future, I want my company to offer more professional pet services to both expats and locals. Personally, I want to have a more flexible schedule in the future. Then I can work at home, and have a good balance between my family and my job.”

Eric Tam

Owner and founder of Globy Pet Relocation
www.globypetrelo.com

Eric Tam set up Globy Pet Relocation in 2001 when he saw a demand for moving pets to or from China. The company has now expanded from its Shanghai headquarters to offices in Beijing, Guangzhou and Chengdu.

“I saw this as a good opportunity because I had worked in this industry in Hong Kong since 1989. We offer worldwide family pet relocation, animal transportation, customs clearance, domestic transportation, boarding and delivery. In a typical day at work, I liaise with all my office colleagues to make sure the pets have arrived safety. I also spend a lot of time talking with overseas agents and local government departments. The best part of my job is knowing we are helping send pets overseas to be reunited with their families. The worst part is when someone calls me at 3am to ask for assistance. We are thinking of opening more offices in the future, in north-eastern and central China. We just launched a new insurance program for pets travelling not only in China but also worldwide. Its coverage is door-to-door, including the quarantine period, as well as pick up and delivery.”