When Chinese-American Mary Peng came to Beijing in the early 1990s, she could not find any international-standard veterinary hospital for her adopted cat, Boo Boo.

A decade later, the MBA graduate of Columbia University came back to China's capital to open one, providing international-level medical care to both locals and expats. Her clients list includes ambassadors and Beijingers alike.

"Love cannot be categorized," says Peng, cofounder and CEO of International Center for Veterinary Services. "A pet is part of the family. When one is sick, the whole family is sick."