India is in the middle of a pet boom. As middle-class incomes rise and young adults delay marriage and children, dogs and cats are stepping into the emotional and economic spotlight. The result is a fast-growing industry—pet insurance, luxury boarding, grooming salons, even “paw-ternity leave”—with the market expected to nearly triple over the next decade. Once a niche choice, pet ownership is becoming a marker of modern urban life, reshaping careers, consumption, and family norms across the country.

https://www.economist.com/asia/2023/12/12/indians-are-going-gooey-over-dogs