City dwellers in the South American concrete jungle of Sao Paulo are increasingly living on their own in high rise apartment blocks, turning to pets for company rather than traditional family cohabitation.
But there comes a time, in fact a rather regular timetable, when the companionship of man's best friend is less desired.
For businesswoman and dog-fanatic, Raquel Yukie Hama, operating in the world's second largest market for pet services, after the United States, herein lay an opportunity.
The result is an increasingly popular dog day care centre, which promises to take responsibility for the furry friends throughout the working day, for a modest cut of their owners' wages.
According to Hama, however, man and his dog get much more for their money than a simple guard, as the dogs are kept on specialist, mood-controlling nutritional, fitness and hygiene plans.
Of some 100 million pets in Brazil, as estimated by the Brazilian Association of Industry and Products for Animals and Pets (ABINPET), the centre sees some 70 dogs through its doors each day, and is growing in popularity.
The centre features an 800 metre-squared area of indoor and outdoor swimming pools, treadmills, personal trainers, physiotherapists, fresh meat and vegetable meals, recreational areas and a complimentary wash and dry.
And if they ever feel a little lonely during the day, owners can tune into live images of their dogs at play, transmitted over the internet from cameras installed throughout most areas of the centre.
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