Fw: SPCA EXTENDS INTERNATIONAL PET ADOPTATHON TO HONG KONG

[Guest guest]

SPCA EXTENDS INTERNATIONAL PET ADOPTATHON TO HONG KONG

 

DATE: 04 May 2002, Saturday

 

TIME: 11 am to 10 pm non-stop

 

VENUES: SPCA Wanchai Centre ( 5 Wan Shing Street, Wanchai)

& SPCA Kowloon Centre (105 Princess Margaret Road)

 

Hong Kong will participate for the first time in the annual international

pet adoptathon on Saturday, May 4, joining animal shelters worldwide in a

concentrated drive to match unwanted but healthy animals with suitable

loving homes.

 

The adoptathon, the first in East Asia, will be hosted by the SPCA Hong Kong

in its animal homing centers in Wanchai, Hong Kong and Ho Man Tin in Kowloon

from 11 am to 10 pm.

 

SPCA experts will be on hand to provide advice on choosing, feeding and

caring for the new family member and on how to be a responsible owner.

 

The lucky pets will go home with an " animal dowry " * a box of special gifts

with all kinds of goodies - to celebrate the first day of their new lives.

 

" The adoptathon is one part of a whole series of initiatives to solve the

problem of unwanted and abandoned companion animals here so that one day

Hong Kong will become a 'no-kill' centre, " said Christopher Hanselman,

Executive Director of the SPCA Hong Kong.

 

" Each animal up for adoption will be spayed or neutered and vaccinated. Our

homing staff will ensure they go only to responsible owners who are prepared

to care properly for the animal for the full extent of its life, " he said.

 

The first Pet Adoptathon was held by the North Shore Animal League of Long

Island, New York in 1995. Since then, the event has mushroomed into a major

international gala with animal shelters from Canada, Britain, France,

Germany, Italy, South Africa, Finland, Greece, India, Australia, Sweden and

Russia taking part, saving the lives of more than 100,000 dogs, cats,

puppies and kittens.

 

This year for the first time, the lives of animals saved in Hong Kong will

be added to the worldwide total.

 

The SPCA urges those who have been planning to share their lives with a new

companion to consider making May 4 the day they tie the knot.

 

An invitation also goes out to those who are considering adopting in the

future to come along and meet the animals and learn how to prepare to be a

responsible owner in a fun and relaxed atmosphere from experts and

volunteers who love to share the joy that pets bring to their lives.

 

For further information, please contact

Public Relations Manager Simon Leung at 2232 5543 or

Public Relations Officer Ada Choy at 2232 5525

 

Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Hong Kong)