Yeah, I think there's a growing interest in the furry fandom in general to see more uncommon species be in the spotlight. Having the canines and felines be at the top of the social hierarchy allows for the story to be meta-textual (these characters are popular in the story because they resemble characters that are popular in real life) while still making sense on its own.
I'm glad you think BYH has a unique flavor from most FVNs. I was mulling over whether it would stand out or not, and I'm glad at least one person thinks it does. Hopefully the story will meet your expectations!