(CN - HK) Pets fall victim to the credit crunch

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South China Morning Post

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Pets fall victim to the credit crunch

Expats forced to leave HK abandon animals

by Simon Parry

Jan 04, 2009

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Pet dogs are being abandoned in increasing numbers in Hong Kong because of a

combination of the spreading craze for " designer pets " and animal-loving

expatriates leaving because of the credit crunch.

Hong Kong Dog Rescue says it has been " totally inundated " with unwanted

animals in recent weeks as dog ownership booms, expatriates move away and

the desirability of trendy breeds switches from one pedigree to another.

 

Meanwhile, a pet relocation business for expatriates leaving Hong Kong says

it has seen a 400 per cent increase in business in the past 12 months as the

number of people pushed out by the credit crunch rises.

 

Jenny Wong, manager of ReloPet, said: " We have seen a massive increase in

people and pets moving out of Hong Kong because of this financial tsunami.

 

" Not all pets are lucky enough to relocate with their owners, and are

sometimes left behind or given to organisations like the Society for the

Prevention of Cruelty to Animals or Hong Kong Dog Rescue. It's clear that

dogs and cats are slowly becoming the silent victims of the credit crunch. "

 

Ms Wong said the number of people leaving had risen sharply. " In December

alone we had 40 new [cases]. A year before, we were getting less than 10

bookings a month.

 

" On top of that, we are also getting a lot of e-mails from people asking,

`If I get made redundant, how far do I have to plan ahead and how much will

it cost to take my pet with me?'

 

" What makes it worse is that many people have to leave immediately. They are

being uprooted the next day and, with pets, it's really difficult especially

when they're going to Australia or the UK. Some countries need six months'

advance preparation.

 

" If they have a large dog and they are going back to a country like

Australia, it can cost at least HK$20,000 to HK$25,000 and boarding can cost

another HK$10,000 on top of that.

 

" It's a lot of money, especially for a family that no longer has an income

coming in. "

 

Stacy Tucker, who runs Ferndale Kennels and Cattery in Sai Kung, said she

had seen a steady increase in people seeking to take pets out of Hong Kong

with them because of the crisis. " There are more people leaving because they

are losing their jobs, and leaving quickly, " she said.

 

" A lot of people are getting caught out by the time frame. For the UK you

have to have a blood test done at least six months before you depart, and

that's quite difficult for people. For Australia it's five months.

 

" It's people who haven't considered they will be leaving who are getting

caught out, and there are quite a lot of them, especially in the banking

sector. Most are taking their pets with them but some are rehoming because

they can't afford it. "

 

Sally Andersen, who runs Hong Kong Dog Rescue, said her shelter was " totally

inundated " with people seeking homes for pets. " I'm getting so many calls

now it's difficult. I get about 10 calls a day, " she said. " We are already

well over our limit.

 

" People know that if we take a dog we keep it and rehome it, however long it

takes. We won't give up on it. That takes the guilt out of it for them. "

 

While people in Hong Kong were generally becoming more responsible about

looking after pets, she said, the big increase in overall dog ownership

meant more dogs were being abandoned.