[Photo/taskmasters.com]
An evening stroll down Kileleshwa, one of the upmarket suburbs in Nairobi, reveals a trend that is slowly gaining traction. In this posh neighborhood, the number of residents taking evening walks while holding their dogs has been on the rise proof that pet ownership is slowly turning into a status symbol in Kenya.
There is an “immense growth” in the number of dogs taking walks in the rather quiet neighborhood.
A pet goes for an equivalent of $400 (Sh40,000).
Going by the many adverts of puppies on sale on social media platforms and sometimes on newspapers, it’s clear pet ownership is catching on among many Kenyans.
More Kenyans want to have guard dogs in their homes, which is a good thing as most dog owners are not interested in just any kind of dog; they are demanding for exotic breeds.
This is hardly surprising as sophisticated dog breeds are widely regarded as a status symbol in many parts of Africa. There is a growing demand for imported pure breeds, especially the German shepherd, Boerboel, Rottweiler, Doberman, British Bulldog, Labrador, and Bullmastiff. These breeds don’t come cheap. The price of a Bullmastiff puppy, for example, starts from $1,000 (Sh100,000).