A shopping mall in Hefei, Anhui Province recently rolled out a pet-friendly event, giving locals a chance to enjoy some quality "family" time with their furry friends.

The star of the show? A fun dog competition. Guided by their owners, pups tackled hurdles, tunnels, and weave poles, showing off their brains and obedience. Dogs just chilling on the sidelines got plenty of love too — with no shortage of tasty snacks from passersby.

Ms. Yang / Pet Owner:

"The event lets dogs pick up some new tricks, and gives owners a chance to swap pet-parenting tips."

The mall also had a pet clinic on standby for emergencies, a cute pet market to drive spending, and an adoption zone to help stray dogs find new homes — all part of building a truly pet-friendly space.

Mr. Tian / Pet Owner:

"Hefei feels like a warm city. More and more shopping areas are letting pets in, and there are more pet events than ever. It's really pet-friendly."

Hefei is now home to over 400,000 pets, growing 17% a year, with pet spending expected to exceed 3 billion yuan this year. As more families get pets, the city is pushing ahead with its pet-friendly build-out. More malls, cultural districts, and suburban parks are opening up pet spaces, complete with pet strollers and poop bag stations. The city's "pet economy" is buzzing.