Chinese hotel rolls out rent-a-dog companion service for guests

Local host-actress' mini maltese and ragdoll cat accepted Mr Jackson Chen, whom she married in August, as their new "papa" without any fuss

- Joanne Soh

Introducing your pets to a new family member may be tricky, as they may get territorial or jealous. For Michelle Chia, bringing then-boyfriend Jackson Chen into the fold was a piece of cake.

Her fur kids — Tasha, a 16-year-old mini maltese, and Marshal, a 1½-year-old ragdoll cat — accepted their new "papa" without any fuss. "It was very natural. They just got used to him really quickly, almost immediately," says the local actress-host.

Chia, 49, exchanged vows with Mr Chen, 41, a former actor-turned-realtor, on Indonesian island Bintan on Aug 8 after two months of dating.

She says her husband is an animal lover and used to have a Siberian husky, so he knows what it is like to care for pets.

She adds that Marshal is "really not afraid of anyone", while Tasha seemed to recognise Mr Chen's place in the family right from the start.

The newly-weds have yet to go on their honeymoon because Chia had to leave for Beijing straight after the wedding to film Channel 8's Find Me A Singapore: The World's My Stage. The docuseries celebrates Singaporeans who have made their mark beyond the little red dot. The series, with home-grown personality Sharon Au as co-host, is available on demand on mewatch and airs on Channel 8 every Thursday at 8pm.

Luckily for Mr Chen, he does not need to fight with Tasha, Chia's inseparable bedfellow, for a spot on the bed.