Seeking pet comfort

The pandemic has reshaped people's perception of owning and caring for pets, spawning a growing market for household animals' food and health products. Su Zihan reports from Hong Kong.

The COVID-19 pandemic may have devastated certain sectors of the global economy, such as the aviation, travel and retail industries, but has brought a silver lining for some businesses that have seen unprecedented growth.

To kill the loneliness in the face of prolonged social and travel restrictions, many people have gone to great lengths to find companionship and emotional support from pets. And awareness of pets' health and wellness continues to grow, along with a greater willingness to spend on them.

The public health crisis has changed people's lifestyles and habits dramatically, with many working from home for a long time. This has given them plenty of time and opportunities to be with their pets and gradually reshape their perceptions of owning and caring for pets. Although people's lives are trickling back to normal as COVID-19 eases, the perception of owning pets formed amid the pandemic is well preserved.

"Adept at using cellphones and surfing on the internet, young, middle-aged people are more exposed to pet-breeding information posted by merchants on social media platforms," says 28-year-old Zhong Zeyuan, who owns a British shorthair cat called Wooby.

"Short videos of pets on the internet prodded me to own a pet and purchase pet supplies," she said, while acknowledging that the videos may have been advertisements.

Zhong moved to Hong Kong from the Chinese mainland three years ago because of her work arrangements. She hasn't been back home due to the travel curbs still in place on both sides. While randomly browsing TikTok last year, she spotted a blue-and-white British shorthair cat and bought it the next day.

"Wooby's presence makes me feel that I have a family in this city. I have a little life that needs my attention and care. The feeling of being needed makes me very happy," says Zhong.

The pandemic's impact may have spawned a recession and rising unemployment. But it has not dampened people's willingness to spend on owning and caring for pets.

Working from home has allowed pet lovers to spend more time with their pets and know more about the animals' needs, while placing greater emphasis on their care and attention, explains Joe Sun, marketing director of Happiness Mart — a local retail brand engaged in high-end pet food and health products. His shop's turnover had grown by about 15 percent between 2020 and 2021.

The pandemic has also somewhat discouraged couples from having a child. Some couples have opted to adopt or buy a pet instead during the pandemic as they are worried about women getting infected while visiting hospitals for checkups during pregnancy, as well as the child's health and development, says Sun.

Caring continues

Although the pandemic has stabilized in recent months and people are gradually returning to offices, the approach and habits people have developed in owning and showing concern for pets in the past two years seem to have been unaffected.

More than 240,000 households in Hong Kong keep cats and dogs as pets, accounting for 9.4 percent of local households, according to the Census and Statistics Department's 2019 statistics. Sun says the number of households owning pets has grown in the past two years, partly boosting sales of pet products.

Consumers aged 30 to 45 are especially willing to spend money on pets, and attach great importance to their health and care, spending an average of HK$500 ($64) on every purchase of pet products, according to Sun.

A survey conducted by insurance company OneDegree early last year showed that 54 percent of 1,400 pet owners spent an average of HK$1,000 to HK$3,000 monthly on their pets. More than 80 percent said they would not cut expenses on their pets despite the financial pressure from the pandemic. This reflects the sustainable development potential of the market.

Iris Mak, who owns a 12-year-old mixed-breed golden retriever, is among those who are willing to spend on pet companionship in the face of the tough economic climate. Her dog was found to have a mammary tumor last year and has undergone three operations in less than a year, costing her more than HK$20,000.

Mak has been taking her dog to regular checkups to monitor for tumors. She has begun paying more attention to her pet's diet and nutrition, hoping the dog can live to a comfortable old age.

"She's part of my family. She's like a child to me," she says. "It's really painful seeing my pet going under the knife repeatedly to remove the tumor."

"Having a pet or a child brings me companionship in stages. They are both part of the family to me. It's just that the kid will see me getting older, while I have to see my puppy age," says Mak.

"It's painful when you feel it's about time to say goodbye. So, you would want to do everything you can to make the pet's life comfortable for the last time."