CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: You know, they say that after time, pets begin to look like their owners, or vice versa. But in some places, they look better than their owners. They dress better too. We get more from CNN's Phil O'Sullivan.</s>PHIL O'SULLIVAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's the middle of winter in Beijing and another customer arrivers at the Hu Xi Pet Fashion Workshop for the latest in canine fashion. Hu Xi is a graduate from Beijing Opera College. She opened her business three years ago at her home in</s>HU XI, PET FASHION DESIGNER (through translator): Most dog owners consider their pets as their own children. Whenever a national holiday comes, such as Christmas, they will come to have some beautiful clothes made here for their pets.</s>O'SULLIVAN: The lead-up to Christmas, Hu was leading (ph) up to five clients a day. And here best-selling items were Santa robes and waistcoasts. Using her knowledge of opera costume designing, Hu Xi was making four suits of Christmas costumes for pets each day. The price of the specially-made costumes usually from $6 to $60 U.S. dollars. This pet owner is spending around $25 U.S. dollars to buy her dog an extravagant costume.</s>WANG YAZHEN, CUSTOMER (through translator): Dressing up our little dogs in Santa Claus costume will not only make her prettier, but also match the atmosphere of the season.</s>O'SULLIVAN: As the Chinese living standards improve, having a pet has become more and more popular among the growing middle class. Beijing has imposed strict regulations on pets living in towns, charging higher fees for pet licenses, and banning them from public areas and cities during the day. But few dog lovers have been dissuaded by the extra expenses for their canine family members. And keeping them warm and looking good is part of the fun. Phil O'Sullivan, CNN, Hong Kong.
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