(Source: 123rf)
What’s this new trend in China that’s stirring up serious buzzy vibes? Pet owners grieving the loss of their furry pals are spending real money in hopes of hearing from them… through psychics. Yes, you read that right: some pet lovers are splurging on “pet psychics” who promise to connect them with their departed animals, and even reveal if they’ve been reincarnated. It’s equal parts touching and unsettling.
Here’s how it works
The psychics charge 128 yuan (around RM75) for you to ask your pet 5 questions. Want unlimited chat time for half a year? That’ll be 2,999 yuan (around RM1,700). And if you’re hoping to learn whether your pet has come back in another form, prepare to pay anywhere between 899 and 1,899 yuan (RM530-RM1,116), all depending on your “spiritual circumstances”.
It sounds comforting on the surface. After all, many miss their pets like family. But things take a darker turn when grief becomes exploitation. One grieving owner, Anran, lost her beloved Beagle in 2024. She would often post about her late dog on social media. That was when she was approached by one Ling who told her to join an online chat group which had more than 400 members.
“Sister, do not be sad. They only lost their bodies; their souls are immortal and can be reincarnated. I have built a chat group for people who lost their ‘fur babies’ and we encourage and comfort each other. If you believe in reincarnation, you can join our group,” Ling told Anran, as reported by South China Morning Post.
Anran paid for a basic “RM75 communication service”, only to get vague answers that eerily echoed details she’d already posted on social media. When she upgraded to the “RM530 reincarnation package” and even followed instructions to pray nightly for a dream from her pet, nothing happened. Instead of compassion, she got ghosted, blocked on social media and kicked out of the chat group by the psychic.
Anran wasn’t alone. Shared stories suggest groups of owners lost a combined 10,000 yuan (around RM5,800) to this psychic ring, and many have filed police reports.
So how did this become a booming business?
Beyond grief, pet psychics tap into a growing pet culture in China. With more people treating pets like family members, investing in extravagant care, from spas to cremations, this trend seems to be the latest entitlement of love wrapped in pseudo-science.
At the end of the day, it’s a heated debate about compassion versus con artists. Losing a pet is profoundly painful. But maybe what we really need is support that honors genuine emotions i.e. grief counseling or a listening ear, and not some psychic hotline charging thousands. After all, real love should comfort without costing your savings.
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