Leo Leung
Such shiba inu! So numerous! Meet Yakult, Yobi, Toro, Mochi and Mini, aka We5, and their owner Leo Leung (not pictured). The shiba “grandpa” tells Yannie Chan about making sacrifices for shibas and what he thinks of that meme. Amaze.
HK Magazine: Why shibas in particular?
Leo Leung: They’re one of the oldest dog breeds and they haven’t changed much compared to their wild ancestors. I like that they’re stuck up and arrogant, which is similar to my temperament.
HK: Did you get them before or after the “doge” meme became popular?
LL: “Meme”? What is that? I can’t keep up with these things. When I’m not working, I’m taking care of the shibas. I don’t have time to go on the internet. But I have noticed that shibas have become very popular in the past few years.
HK: Why do you have so many shibas?
LL: I bought a shiba, Yakult, seven years ago. I fell for him at first sight. He was the first birthday present I bought myself. My ex-girlfriend said she wanted our shiba to have a girlfriend and a big group of kids, so we bought Yobi. But Yakult couldn’t “do it” for the first two years. He had been trying very hard, but he couldn’t find the right position. Then he figured it out, and Yobi gave birth to four puppies. We kept two. My ex-girlfriend then left me for another man. Yobi was later pregnant again, and I kept one of the puppies, hence the family of five. The latest addition, Tea Bag, is a troubled shiba from a friend: he’s still misbehaving so he’s not officially part of the family yet.
HK: Is it hard to take care of them all?
LL: I’ve lost the other half of my life. I have no weekend plans but them. I have no social life. I pick up 10 poops each walk. Their room is bigger than mine—I can’t even open my bedroom door properly as the bed would get in the way. My kitchen is full of their food.
HK: Do you ever get frustrated?
LL: I sacrifice a lot for them, but to me, the reward is worth it. I quit my job for them. I’m planning to publish a book about their story. I want to have something to be proud of before the end of my life and theirs.
HK: What is each of your dogs like?
LL: Yakult, the father, is very fierce. He doesn’t like other dogs to come near his girlfriend. Yobi is the mummy and she’s very nice. Toro is the big brother. He seems tough, but he’s actually very afraid of motorcycles, even parked ones. Mochi, the big sister, is scared of everything, especially umbrellas. Wherever we go, she’s always close to me. You could say Mini’s my favorite—she’s the youngest, so even the other dogs love her the most. She’s fearless.