Pets feel the pinch of economic crisis too, says association

GUANGZHOU: It seems that no one can escape the affects of the global economic recession these days - not even pets.

The city has already seen a sharp fall in the amount owners are spending on their beloved companions, while some are even opting to get rid of their animals to save cash, said the Guangzhou Pets Association.

Previously, people would pay up to 8,000 yuan ($1,170) to buy a dog but that figure had dropped to just 3,000 yuan during the financial crisis, association director Zhu Risheng told China Daily yesterday.