They wear bejeweled collars, dress in the finest fashions and eat their supper at expensive restaurants: welcome to the jet-set world of Hong Kong’s most indulged canine residents.
But it’s not all fashion and food. The city’s pampered pooches also enjoy days out at the spa where their fur is turned into a rainbow of neon colours, and spend their Sundays snoozing on the beach.
Nowhere is the penchant for mollycoddled pets more apparent than in the fishing village of Sai Kung, where dogs are firmly considered to be family members.
Just outside the city, Sai Kung is one of the most canine-friendly spots on the planet, with streets lined with chic dog boutiques and restaurants that rush to welcome the four-legged friends of their customers. But while Sai Kung has the highest concentration of dog fans, the rest of the Chinese megalopolis is not far behind.
Hong Kong has experienced a boom in dog ownership in recent years, with an estimated 174 975 canines believed to live in the city.
To cater for them, huge numbers of dog-related businesses have sprung up.
So what’s behind Hong Kong’s love of dogs? According to photographer Brian Cassey, the low birth rate in Hong Kong could be to blame. “Hong Kong has one of the lowest birth rates in the world,” he said. “With few actual babies, people have found substitutes to splash their love, attention and money on.” – Daily Mail