HK pet owners honor deceased companions with offerings ahead of Chung Yeung Festival

Hong Kong pet owners who have lost their furry companions are honoring their memory with paper-craft offerings ahead of the Chung Yeung Festival, extending the traditional practice of commemorating ancestors to sending blessings to their pets.

The festival, which falls on October 29 this year, serves as a time when many filial descendants climb heights to sweep tombs, now fostered a niche industry of pet memorial products. 

Pet businesses have launched a variety of sacred offerings for deceased pets, such as clothing, canned food, Wagyu beef, salmon, luxury villas, and gold coins, covering all aspects of daily needs.

The owner of an online store specializing in pet memorial products, surnamed Ng, noted that many customers purchase offerings to honor their deceased pets during the Ching Ming Festival, Chung Yeung Festival, and on the first and fifteenth days of the lunar month.

On average, the store receives four to six related orders per month, Ng said. Some customers simply offer fresh flowers, while others with traditional beliefs prefer preparing the elaborate offerings.

"Items can be purchased individually or as sets, with prices ranging from HK$80 to HK$1,500," said Ng.

The store also provides a burning service, allowing customers who cannot be present in person to conduct remote ceremonies for their pets, with a video recorded during the process.

Ng launched the business in August last year, though her idea of starting paper-craft sacred offerings arose five years ago following the passing of her beloved dog.

Initially, she found it very difficult to find suppliers who could provide exquisite and three-dimensional offerings with a variety of styles similar to those for ancestors.

"I contacted multiple factories in mainland China and Taiwan," she said. "Products from the mainland were cheaper but had inconsistent quality, with items often arriving in Hong Kong dented."

After visiting many factories, she eventually decided to source more expensive but better quality products from Taiwan.

Ng also shared that many customers purchase products from her shop after receiving messages from their pets in dreams.

"One customer, who has burned the deceased cat's usual food, received a dream message saying the cat couldn't eat it," she said, prompting the customer to purchase canned food offerings.

She also mentioned a Buddhist foreign couple who received a dream message that their dog wanted a bed after the pet passed away.

Ng believes that the meaning of her business also lies in healing the hearts of pet owners. "I can truly relate to their feelings," she said. "Most people regard their pets as family members, or even as their own children."

She said the motivation to keep running the business comes from listening to customers share stories about their pets. "Even if this won't make me wealthy or put food on the table, it's a heartfelt mission."