March 28, Hong Kong— Sleeping cats, quiet counter, lonely shop. It is 2 p.m. in Saturday, which should be the best business time for pet shops, but in a pet shop in Hong Kong, it seems not.

“Maybe I should blame it to the financial crisis,” Eddie Cheng, the holder of a pet shop named “Mesquite house grooming limited”, said, “I was always very busy in this time before the financial crisis.”

There are nearly twenty different kinds of cats in the shop, such as persian cat, Sianmese cat and Himalayan cat. Nearly everyone is sleeping because there is no tease. Once they were stars that were popular with consumers, Eddie said.

“After the financial crisis, the sells of cats have decreased a lot,” Eddie said, “From 15 on average per month to 5 to 6 per month. The profit also crashed a lot. Before the turmoil, the profit was 6,000 for a deal. But now it has dropped to 3,000 each.”

The sells of pets are not the only one that has been influenced by the financial crisis. In this shop, pet food and pet tool are also decreased in sells. Comparing to the sells before the financial crisis, only 50% now is available.

“Now there are less consumers coming to chose cats, and even the ones who came here were complaining the price was too high.” Eddie said, with a deeply sigh.

March 28, Hong Kong— It is a little cold outside, but in a room up to 3 floor, it is warm with several pets. Mad Dog Come, a theme café which is special for pet lovers, shows vitality in the cold spring.

The café located in Causeway Bay was opened two years ago. There are eight dogs which belong to the holder always in the room, and some consumers also bring theirs together to enjoy time here. They are actually the protagonists in the room, according to Mini, the holder of the café.

“I like pets, so I often come here,” Karen, a pet lover in the café, said, “I cannot buy one because of its high costs, however, I can come here to tease them instead.”

People here are always dandling dogs, and the dogs are satisfied with the favor. They are running, barking, and eating with happy.

“I have raised my dog for 15 years and I believe the time will go on.” Vivena, who was hugging her dog, said. She said nothing would change her emotion to pet, even the influence of the financial crisis was still there.

Every time new visitors come, the dogs are exiting to welcome them.

“I like here because there are so many cute dogs,” Kristy said, “And I find there are more consumers than other café because of this particularity.”

However, although with successful mode, there are still shadows from financial crisis in the café.

“The sales of pet food, pet clothes have decreased,” said Mini, “Before the financial crisis, consumers spent more in the café to have food and drinks, as well as buy something for their pets. But now they spend less. Because of the financial crisis, people are more thrift. They spend less on their pets and save money for themselves.”

The regular consumers of this café came here twice or more every month before the financial crisis, but now the rate has dropped to once a month, according to Mini.

“There are many people here now, just because it is Saturday. From Friday to Sunday, the café is often full of consumers. However, in other days of a week, it is quiet here.” Mini said.

Not only the profit of the café has declined, the cost of Mini is also becoming a burden.

“Because of the eight dogs I have, every month I have to spend more than 3,000 on them for dog food. Things go worse when some of them get sick. On average, every one to two months there is someone sick. The cost on visiting veterinary is expensive.”

But even it is somewhat hard for her to raise these dogs, Mini still decides to go on with this business.

“I really like these cute dogs, and I know my consumers enjoy their time here. As soon as I can support it, I won’t give up. This is not only business, but also favor.” Mini said.

Charity sell for pets: a stall standing in Causeway Bay is selling commodity to collect money to help animals. It is sponsored by SPCA(the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) of Hong Kong, and it attracts the attention of pedestrians.