Regardless of the high proportion of flat-dwellers in Hong Kong, not to mention the long working hours demanded here, a large number of individuals in this city enjoy the company of their four-legged friends.
However, with the best will in the world, taking Rover for his daily constitutional can be something of a challenge for most city-dwellers.
According to Rebecca Ngan Yee-ling, the public relations and communications manager at the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Hong Kong (SPCA), taking dogs for regular walks is utterly essential.
Not only does exercise help canines avoid ill-health, including obesity and diarrhoea, and maintain healthy joints, but also it provides them with an essential dose of socialisation.
'Dogs also need to meet with people [and] other dogs and sniff the environment to give [them] adequate stimulation,' Ms Ngan said.
In addition, 'Dogs [who are not] walked become bored very easily and can develop all sorts of behavioural problems, such as destructive behaviour, soiling, barking and aggression - we call this 'kennel stress',' she said.