Puppy love unleashed: a boom in dog ownership in Hong Kong poses challenges for lawmakers and urban planners

Poodles in pushchairs, schnauzers in sweaters, bejewelled teacup terriers in boots: these are all common sights to behold on the streets of Hong Kong. Pooch spas have sprung up across the city, alongside doggie magazines and brands peddling canine couture and posh dog nosh.

Hongkongers are lavishing more attention – and cash – on their canines than ever before. And more and more locals are welcoming pets into the family, with the number of dog licences issued by the government rising from 40,700 to 65,500 in the last decade.

This rise in dog numbers has seen the pet industry balloon. The number of pet hostels shot up by 400 per cent and pet shops increased by 100 per cent between 2000 and 2009, according to an Audit Commission report. Experts also report an exponential growth in the vet industry.

And just last month, the city witnessed its first court case involving a dispute between owners about restraining a dog at a pet park.

The new era of puppy love has created several challenges for the city’s lawmakers and urban planners to amend policies that can accommodate the boom while ensuring the welfare of man’s four-legged friends, as well as equal access to pet dogs across Hong Kong’s social spectrum.

“Much of the existing laws are outdated or are non-existent compared to animal-friendly cities,” says Gary Chin, who shares a Pok Fu Lam flat with two lively sheepdogs.