Aspirational millennials give Indian dogs a luxury upgrade

From spas to psychics, booming pet industry is about more than food and grooming

India currently accounts for 1% of the $225 billion global pet care industry, but with an annual growth rate of 17%, it is the world's fastest-growing market and is expected to be valued at around $500 million by the end of this year. © Reuters

ANITA RAO KASHI, Contributing writer

April 24, 2022 08:00 JST

BANGALORE -- When Russia invaded Ukraine in late February, around 20,000 Indian students immediately found themselves stranded.

While most began walking to the nearest border in hopes of being evacuated, a small number who refused to leave their dogs behind dug in. Soon caught up in a social media drama and bureaucratic red tape, enormous public pressure eventually helped them get what they wanted: a ticket home for their beloved pets.