Global Courant
SAMUT PRAKAN, Thailand — A fluffy white cat in a yellow dress sat atop a movie theater seat in Bangkok, while nearby a chihuahua in a Sebastian the Crab costume got ready to watch Disney’s The Little Mermaid with their owners.
One terrier even channeled Ariel in a red wig and mermaid tail.
They were among dozens of four-legged moviegoers who arrived in strollers on Saturday for the opening of Thailand’s first pet-friendly movie theater on the outskirts of the capital, Bangkok.
Thailand’s pet industry is considered the second largest in Asia after China’s, with some 8.3 million dogs and 3.7 million cats by 2021, according to industry data.
Pet ownership grew during the coronavirus pandemic and now some businesses are trying to make money.
Mano, 37, had brought his rescue cat, Kati, to the cinema.
“We sometimes take him to work… Today is like an experiment,” he said.
“We see The Little Mermaid. He will enjoy seeing all the fish on the screen.”
The animals must wear diapers and be in bags, and the sound and lighting are adjusted for their comfort, Major Cineplex spokesman Narute Jiensnong said.
“Bangkok is not a very pet-friendly city,” says Mr. Narute, adding that the concept builds on the company’s kid-friendly theaters.
Mr Narute noted that some pets acquired during the pandemic are suffering from separation anxiety now that owners are no longer working from home or are in lockdown.
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