Pet celebrations are reaching new heights, with pawrents sparing no expense to pamper their furkids.
In Singapore, a pawrent in 2024 threw her dog a lavish birthday bash that included a yacht party, a spa session and a custom-made cake.
Meanwhile, a couple in Malaysia marked their cat’s seventh birthday in a Louis Vuitton boutique, dressing it in a crystal-studded grey dress and an LV collar-a move that sparked much public criticism.
The atas pet trend now? Travelling.
Local pet businesses are witnessing a two-fold increase in travel requests.
Pet relocation specialist Fly A Pet owner Zou Wensheng told Lianhe Zaobao: “Before Covid-19, we rarely had inquiries about pet travel. Now we get questions about it almost daily.”
Fly A Pet facilitated 10 pet trips in 2023 and the number doubled to 20 in 2024, with expectations of further growth this year.
Another pet travel agency, Pets 2 Go, also saw a rise in demand.
Manager Xu Jie’en credits this to social media, where owners often share their pets’ overseas adventures.
“Before the pandemic, pet travel made up only 5 per cent of our inquiries,” he revealed.
“Since 2022, interest has increased by 30 to 60 per cent.
“We arranged five pet trips in 2023, and that number jumped to 11 in 2024, all involving dogs,.”
It takes about five months of preparation for a smooth trip, but dedicated owners are committed to making it happen.
“For many, pets are family. Leaving them behind while traveling isn’t an option,” added Mr Xu.
Europe and Japan are the most sought-after destinations for pet-friendly travel due to their welcoming policies. Many European nations allow pets from Singapore to enter without long quarantine periods.
Luxury travel for pets isn’t cheap.
Taking a small dog to Europe costs between $2,500 and $ 6,000, excluding flight cargo or cabin fees. Additional services like pet crates, vaccinations and entry permits add to the expenses.
Then there are pawrents who fly their furkids in business class or even on private jets.
Ferndale Pet Travel director and veterinarian Matthew Murdoch shared that a growing number of owners book private jets to ensure their pets travel stress-free.
His company recorded a 25 per cent jump in inquiries for such travel styles last year.
Housewife Chen Rouxin and her husband went all out for Momo, spending $5,000 and six months of preparation to take the 13-year-old dog on a trip to France and Germany last year.
“Momo is like our child. Since we were travelling for three weeks, we couldn’t bear to leave him behind,” said the 54-year-old.
“We’re now planning a trip to Italy with him.”
Aside from leisure, more pet owners are sending their pets overseas for specialised medical treatment.
Mr Murdoch noted a rise in pets being flown abroad for radiation therapy to treat cancer, as Singapore currently lacks animal radiation facilities. Last year, his company arranged for four dogs to undergo treatment in Hong Kong.
