In The Business Of Pawrenting, we feature 16 businesses (like this cat hotel) and many doting pawrents. Filming the furkids was, as you can imagine, chaotic fun for the crew.
Like “trying to get shots of the excitable dogs at daycare resting,” says producer Sheryl Teo. “The whole crew (4 of us) had to pretend to sleep and stealthily film them off guard!”
There were some scares – “a cameraman and I were attacked in the foot by a terrier when we were moving a light stand” – but it was clear the pawrents loved their animals deeply, “even if they seem to go overboard sometimes”.
Sadly, it’s not always the case.
More pets are being abandoned. The latest episode of Talking Point sees what life is like in an animal shelter through the eyes of Ace, a 4-year-old surrendered by its owner.
Escalating vet bills can be one of the reasons for abandonment. That’s why owners are advised to save for medical bills. But is pet insurance worth considering? An episode of Money Mind discusses this.
Being a responsible pawrent does take money. But there are ways to fulfil their welfare needs without splurging, as a vet, a nutritionist and a behaviourist tell us on Business of Pawrenting.
Start with the basics, like nutrition (is a raw diet best?), grooming, understanding their body language, and regular vet checks. As Sheryl learnt, love is not enough: “It’s important for pawrents to take time to learn how to care for their pets properly.”
Yvonne Lim
Deputy Chief Editor, CNA Insider (Growth)
