Join host Joey Chou as he dives into socio-economic issues faced by Taiwan, and their broader impact beyond the reefs of this island nation.

They say pets are the new children—and in Taiwan, that might actually be true. Over the past decade, Taiwan’s pet industry has boomed in ways no one saw coming. It’s no longer just about dogs and cats sleeping on the porch or in the backyard—today’s pets are family, and their needs are catered to like never before. We’re talking organic food, pet hotels, birthday cakes, fashion accessories, aromatherapy, and even pet acupuncture.

In fact, as of 2023, Taiwan had over 3 million registered pets, compared to just 2.95 million children under the age of 14. The shift isn’t just cultural—it’s economic. Taiwan’s pet market is now worth over NT$60 billion (about US$1.9 billion) per year, and it’s projected to grow steadily at 5-7% annually. Similar trends are taking hold across Asia, where rising affluence, urban lifestyles, and low birth rates have reshaped how people invest in companionship.

To understand this transformation from the inside out, I sat down with Candace Chen, the founder and CEO of Fluv. Candace left a high-powered career in corporate marketing to pursue her passion for animals—and her business is now helping shape the future of pet care in Taiwan.