The device consists of an 80-gram (3-ounce) battery-operated fan that is attached to a mesh attachment and blows air around an animal’s body. Rei Uzawa, president of maternity wear maker Sweet Mommy, says she was motivated to create it after seeing her own pet chihuahua exhausted every time she was taken out for a walk in the scorching summer heat. Sign up now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Register “There was almost no rainy season this year, so the hot days came early, and in that sense, I think we developed a product that is right for the market,” he said. A 5-year-old Scottish Fold cat named Sun wears a pet battery-powered fan suit developed by Japanese maternity clothing company Sweet Mommy during the company’s promotional event in Tokyo, Japan, July 28, 2022. REUTERS/ Issei Kato read more After Tokyo’s rainy season ended in late June, the Japanese capital suffered its worst heat wave on record with temperatures reaching 35 degrees Celsius (95 Fahrenheit) for nine days. “I usually use dry ice packs (to keep the dog cool). But I think it’s easier to walk my dog if we have this fan,” said Mami Kumamoto, 48, who owns a miniature poodle named Pudding and a terrier named Maco. The device debuted in early July, and Sweet Mommy has received about 100 orders for the product, Uzawa said. It comes in five different sizes and is priced at ¥9,900 ($74). ($1 = 133.1900 yen) Sign up now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Register Reporting by Irene Wang Writing by Daniel Leussink Editing by Frances Kerry Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
