By Jay Scott Kanes

LAMMA ISLAND, Hong Kong -- A tiny dog adores one of this island’s businesses and its animal-friendly proprietor.

Lai See, a four-year-old, black-and-white mongrel, maybe partly Shih Tzu, has selected the Tropicana Juices and Snacks Shop in Yung Shue Wan as her favorite hang-out. She visits at every opportunity, often loitering for hours.

Normally, Lai See greets Can Li, the shop’s proprietor, by zestfully slapping her paws at his hands in a “double high-five”. Then they perform a short dance routine with Lai See waving her front paws while standing upright.

“She’s not a customer. She’s my good friend,” Can said.

“When I bring Lai See into the village, she uses any excuse to ‘get lost’ and rush to the Tropicana,” said Rahat Raza, the dog’s owner. “It’s like, ‘Oh, I didn’t hear you calling me.’ I’m sure I’ve come to the Tropicana and found her more than 100 times. She stays there for up to five hours at a time without me being anywhere around.

“Recently, she was extra cheeky. We were going home, and she lingered near the bins by our house. I thought she’d come along and left the gate open for her. But she decided that being by the bins counted as officially lost so she went all the way back to the Tropicana.”

At home, the mini-mutt doesn’t dance or deliver high fives. “Lai See performs for Can like she won’t for anyone else,” Rahat said.

Sometimes, but not always, Can gives his ‘good friend’ little treats, usually bits of sausage. Being fond of dogs, Can often offers tidbits to his customers’ canines. But only Lai See worships him. “She loves Uncle Can,” said Rahat.

“No, she loves the sausage,” said the modest Can.

But Rahat disagrees: “It isn’t like Can’s the only one who gives treats to Lai See. The fruit-shop lady always invites her all the way in and feeds her stuff. Other people give her treats too. So that’s not what lures her to the Tropicana.”

If Lai See finds the Tropicana closed, she waits on the step. “I’ve seen her there when the shop had its shutter down,” Rahat said. “It’s her spot to hang out, even if she’s thinking, ‘It’s a pity he’s not open, but this’ll do.’ ”

Lai See is one of two dogs belonging to Rahat, her partner Iain and their son Ithan. The family adopted Lai See from Lamma Animal Protection, an animal-welfare charity, in 2004.

Earlier, Lai See and a sister survived when abandoned near the local temple. “They’d been horribly treated,” said Rahat. “They were found fur-less. Who’d imagine it to see her now?”

The family’s other dog, Vee Vee, a refined 17-year-old, is one of Lamma’s oldest canines. With wisdom and age, Vee Vee shows less wanderlust.

For Lai See’s sake, her family must continue living reasonably near the Tropicana. “While we’re in Hong Kong, we’ll be on Lamma,” said Rahat. “There’s nowhere else I’d like to live.”

From lingering at the Tropicana, Lai See “knows a lot more people than the rest of our family combined,” Rahat said. “People I’ve never seen before will walk by and call out to her.”

Popular and carefree, little Lai See stays buoyed by her plans for future joyous visits to the Tropicana.


Lai See and Can share a jovial moment.


At the Tropicana, Lai See stays content.

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