After a long, grueling day at the office, there's nothing better than returning home to a warm welcome. For some that means a freshly cooked meal, for others, a warm hug. For many, though, it's the excited bark of a dog and the affectionate nuzzle of a cat.
No longer automatically relegated to a drafty outdoor kennel or cage, pets these days are often considered an integral part of the family. For many city dwellers, the deep emotional ties they enjoy with their pets help make their isolated urban lives less lonely and stressful.
"Dona is as essential to my life as the air I breathe," says Atsuko Suzuki, 40, an overseas trust-bank employee and owner of an 8-year-old German shepherd. "I wish I could bring her into the office every day."