Mark Mak: Animal Welfare Crusader
Got a sick pet but you’re strapped for cash? Take your furry friend to Mark Mak, the executive chairman of the only non-profit veterinary clinic in Hong Kong. He talks to June Ng about his life as an animal welfare crusader.
HK Magazine: Why did you decide to open up a non-profit veterinary clinic?
Mark Mak: Humans have public hospitals for disadvantaged people, so why isn’t there a similar service for animals? I’d been talking about setting up a non-profit animal hospital with other volunteers for a long time, and then in 2006, former singer Vivian Chow—who’s also an animal welfare activist—provided some funding, and together with other donations, we set up this non-profit veterinary clinic. Stray dogs are a serious problem in Hong Kong. If someone wanted to de-sex a female dog, it could cost $1,000. And then what if they’re sick? How much care can people afford?
HK: What’s the main difference between your clinic and other ones?
MM: Besides charging a very small fee that just covers our operating costs, we also provide discounts to the underprivileged. If they have difficulties in paying their pet’s medical fees, we can give them a discount from 20 to 80 percent off.
HK: But how do you determine whether people are underprivileged?
MM: In some cases, people have to submit proof, but even if they can’t offer proof, what do you say to an old lady who’d rather spend her money on paying her cat’s medical fee than replacing her old pair of spectacles? Would you say no do her? We’re a lot less bureaucratic than the government.
HK: Some people might argue that people shouldn’t keep pets at all if they can’t afford the expense. What’s your opinion?
MM: It’s actually a very interesting argument. But think of it like this: Can you say that just because a person is poor, they don’t deserve to have an animal companion? Is that a right that can only be enjoyed by the rich? We want to change this mindset. We believe that no matter whether their owners are rich or poor, their pets should be able to get medical care.
HK: What do you think of most Hong Kong people’s attitudes towards animals?
MM: Humans are so selfish. We always see things from our own point of view, and seem to think that we somehow grant a life to our pets, that we allow them to exist in our world. Actually, I prefer to hang out with animals rather than people. They’re more pure.
HK: Do all dogs go to heaven?
MM: I don’t have any particular beliefs, but I do hope there’s a heaven for animals out there. For all the pets that pass away at our clinic—no matter whether the owner wants to collect the body or not—I buy a little Buddhist blessing and put it together with the animal before its incineration. It’s just a small gesture to wish them better luck in the afterlife. Hopefully they can be reborn as humans.