Vet costs discourage me from owning more animals. I simply couldn't afford the care if my pets needed major surgery which I feel would be unfair to them and would break my heart and my family's heart too.

If one can afford having a dog or cat, one may have to pay extra. Think twice before doing so.

Ridiculous that one pays more for a dog than a human child.

The debate should be on whether it is reasonable that vets should charge so much. Using costs for human medical procedures as a comparison, the vet costs should not be higher.

- Hong Kong alone consumes a very large quantity of shark fin and handles at least 50 per cent of the trade. It is fortunate that our nouveau riche from the north have not quite caught on. Before the HK government has the courage to ban it altogether, I believe our young generation in Hong Kong should take the lead to boycott it, influencing the old as much as possible to quit. The traders, of course, have to give in and adjust.

There are a lot betters things to eat than shark fins … an end to selfish disregard of the environment and wildlife. We should celebrate rather than lament the fin trade is going away.