Pet ownership is on the rise in urban China. Many want pets as a way of confirming their entry into the country’s middle class. Pet accessory stores are booming. At the same time, much of the rural population resists the trend. Dog and cat meat is considered a delicacy. New legislation to protect animal rights is angrily resisted by those who see such laws as a Western intrusion on China’s traditional ways. Despite the urban pet craze, it’s still dog-eat-dog when it comes to fair treatment of pets.
