Heartfelt farewells in Hong Kong as pets receive Christian memorial services

Difficulty: Summiteer (Level 3)

Hymns and eulogies filled the air at a church in Hong Kong one afternoon, much like at any other Christian memorial service.

What made the funeral service unusual was that the deceased, Siu Dou, was a dog.

Church-goer Michael Leung* said that long before he welcomed the Shiba Inu into his life, he believed it was essential to hold memorial services for animals that had died.

The loss of his 13-year companion, Siu Dou, or “little bean”, in August devastated Leung. He said the dog had offered him endless love. He wanted to pay tribute to his furry friend with a proper funeral in September.

Unlike the Buddhist and Taoist communities, conducting a memorial service for deceased pets is not a common practice among local Protestant and Catholic churches.

Another Christian, Marz Lee, also held a funeral service for her rabbit Jeung Jeung when her pet of more than a decade died four years ago.

Siu Dou and Jeung Jeung’s funerals were conducted by the Reverend Grace Bok Sha-lun, one of the few ministers in the city who will hold memorial services for animals.

* Name changed at the interviewee’s request

Quiz time

1. What was unusual about the memorial service?

2. How old was Siu Dou when he died?

3. Who was Jeung Jeung?

4. In which communities is it common to hold pet memorial services?

Hongkonger Marz Lee held a memorial service to say goodbye to her beloved rabbit Jeung Jeung. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Suggested answers

1. The memorial service was for a dog.

2. He was 13 years old.

3. a pet rabbit

4. Buddhist and Taoist communities