Your human-interest story “The luxury pet-friendly hotels taking pet pampering to new heights, in Hong Kong and beyond” (July 30) actually shows that we may have hit a new low in irresponsible behaviour towards the sustainability of our planet, and the treatment of animals. Although the canine protagonist of the story, Colin, a miniature schnauzer, enjoyed his day of luxury at a hotel, it comes at rather great expense to the environment when multiplied by the over 500,000 dogs and cats in Hong Kong. For example, we learn that a typical meal for dogs at the hotel consist of beef, pork or chicken. Take the environmental impact of the Australian beef option, for instance. The inefficiency of beef production is well known with several kilograms of grain required to fatten cattle by just 1kg. Then, there are the forests to be cleared for grazing, the copious amounts of water needed and the powerful greenhouse gas , methane, produced by belching cows. Although pig and chicken farming is more efficient, the extent of damage to the environment is only a question of degree, not category. Meanwhile, Colin gets his teeth brushed in chicken-flavoured toothpaste made from birds kept in cages so small they cannot spread their wings. The story of Colin’s treat ignores the indignity to animal life steeped throughout the article. While our domesticated livestock live short, miserable lives, Colin is treated to their gourmet-prepared flesh to indulge his owners. As much as his owners would like to think that Colin is enjoying the luxurious experience, the likelihood of a dog determining the difference between a one-star and a five-star hotel is the same as a dog owner being able to determine the difference between the smell of a poodle and a retriever. “Get a life,” I hear dog owners shouting. “It’s just a bit of fun.” Perhaps. But a very serious issue underlies my point here. When we elevate one animal over another, and worse, feed its flesh to the advantaged species, all the while ignoring the damage being done to the sustainability of our planet, it is no longer fun. Climate change is an existential issue for our own species, and Colin’s owners, by indulging their dog in a luxury hotel, simply thumb their nose at Mother Earth. Paul Stapleton, Ma On Shan
