I read an interesting article in the New York Times a few days ago: “Once Banned, Dogs Reflect China’s Rise”.  There are a few interesting threads to the story – there is the social phenomenon of the changing attitudes towards pets, the over the top anecdotes (including the $600,000 dog that was escorted to its new home in a 30-strong Mercedes motorcade), the debate about resources and rights for pets versus people in China, and even the lavish pet amenities available to certain city-dwellers.  (Movie theaters for pets and people?  I’d love that here in L.A.!)  I also learned a new term, given to enthusiastic dog owners in Beijing, but equally applicable to pet parents here in the states: gouyou, or literally, “dog friends”.