Man’s best friend? Maybe not in Hong Kong

I am writing in response to the letter from Joan Miyaoka (“Why few dogs have their day in Hong Kong”, August 17). With more tragedies involving dog abuse happening these days in the city, I can’t help but wonder if they can ever be treated as man’s best friend again.

Multiple studies have shown that having a pet, especially a dog, can be really helpful in easing depression and loneliness, and even in coming to terms with the death of a loved one. They can indeed be our best friends.

But this seems to be far from the reality on the ground. So often we hear of dogs being brutally treated as if they were a threat to humanity. Some are being tossed out of rooftops, and others are being abandoned on the streets. Dogs that have been abused become fearful and can tend to charge in self-defence, leading to further mistreatment.

Full force of Hong Kong law needed in animal cruelty cases

Dogs do have souls, just like humans. They, too, can get depressed and sad, and feel a range of emotions. Maybe it is time we showed more empathy instead of viewing ourselves as the superior species.

Cassandra Chan, Lam Tin