SPCA HK bridges the gap between the public and animals through their Adoption Day and Marketplace event

The SPCA held its Adoption Day and Marketplace event on the 23rd of March, following the grand opening of its new Centennial Centre in Tsing Yi – marking the first ever event held in the venue. 

Animal lovers across Hong Kong are invited to bring their children, pets and peers to tour the new facility and meet the rescues.

In Hong Kong, animal welfare needs are protected by the Cap. 169 ordinance and Government organisations like the Agriculture, Fisheries, and Conservation Department who work to improve animal welfare through education and funding. The Cap. 169 ordinance subjects offenders to a HKD200,000 fine and imprisonment for 3 years if found to have caused the suffering of an animal.

According to Fiona Woodhouse, Deputy Director of Welfare in the SPCA, authorities such as the AFCD and the police are still the bodies that possess enforcement power to push legislative actions further. With the SPCA providing support through education and prosecution. 

“We can give advice, and improvement notices and educate people which is great because you want animals to have better lives,” said Woodhouse. 

Education proves as one of the SPCA’s most valued approaches to connecting humans and animals alike. “A lot of what we believe is that we can only help people to change animals’ lives. That’s why we put a lot of work into education,” said Woodhouse during a guided tour of the centre’s facilities.

Woodhouse sees incorporating the public as a multifaceted approach. “We do education on all levels but a lot of our focus is at kindergarten, primary, then going into secondary.” With an animal welfare school curriculum introduced by the SPCA in 2007, the new Tsing Yi centre includes conference rooms, reading rooms, 3 classrooms, as well as an interactive classroom.

Student volunteers were also present during the SPCA’s Adoption Day. According to student volunteers Alana and Liora, they had signed up to help out as part of a community project. Animal related issues according to Alana, is something she loves and is passionate about. With both volunteers referring to their experience as enjoyable. 

“Children have been noted to be very empathetic and almost sort of more likely to recognise that animals can feel pain and suffer,” said Woodhouse. The Adoption Day event also included a Balloon Twisting Workshop on the second floor for children. “It’s good to educate young people as when they grow older, hopefully they will still remember that and carry those beliefs and understandings through,” said Woodhouse. 

The event itself was not only crowded with people, but pets as well. The public were allowed to not only bring their dogs, but meet the organisations rescues up for adoption. 22-year-old Kyle Bautista has adopted 2 cats from the SPCA previously. He himself is familiar with the organisation. Bautista views adoption as unique and eye-opening. “They always mention where the animal comes from. That really shows that you’re making a difference, giving homes to these little guys that haven’t been treated well,” said Bautista.

According to other animal lovers such as Samala Siu, a 19-year-old university student with an adopted cat, adoption for some is still a taboo. “They think that oh, that animal must have been aggressive or something negative. That’s why it ended up here and it’s used. That you can’t build a bond with them,” said Siu. 

“I adopted cats when they were young. It took them a while to get used to us but we got there,” said Siu with a smile as she showed a picture of her adopted cats. “They ended up being the most memorable pets I have and I love them.” 

“It’s not common for people to adopt in Chinese culture. Or at least my parents,” said Ari Tang, a 19-year old student from Hong Kong University. According to Tang, some turn to pet shops instead. 

Siu herself had both adopted and bought pets. “I feel like the reason why people choose buying a pet is because of how they can raise, mould, and influence the animal,” said Siu. While the SPCA themselves emphasise a connection between the human and the animal. “As society and individuals, we have a responsibility to try to help them,” said Woodhouse. 

“It’s [adoption] more centred around the animal, than yourself. I guess you could say it’s more selfless in a way” said Bautista. “A lot of people, they want the perfect cat, or the perfect dog rather than finding an animal that they can give a happy home to,” he said. 

“For me, it’s not about what I want, it’s more of what I can do for the animal.” Said Bautista.