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Animal lovers will have the chance to get together and share their experiences of keeping pets at the "Show Your Love - Adopt a Pet" carnival at Pai Tau Village Playground, Pai Tau Street, in Sha Tin this Saturday and Sunday (December 3 and 4).
The carnival is organised by the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) with support from the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the Society for Abandoned Animals, Hong Kong Dog Rescue and the Lamma Animal Welfare Centre. It aims to encourage people to adopt animals and promote responsible pet ownership.
Many animals deserve a second chance to be a lovable pet again after being abandoned or given up by their owners. The AFCD encourages the public to adopt abandoned or surrendered animals through approved non-profit-making animal welfare organisations. Currently, abandoned or unclaimed pets with friendly temperament and good health are selected by the AFCD for rehoming. They are sent to 13 partner animal welfare organisations for adoption. The animals include dogs, cats, rabbits, chinchillas and reptiles.
In an effort to help animal welfare organisations further publicise their animal rehoming schemes, the AFCD has implemented new measures since October last year including publicity for participating animal welfare organisations through websites, pamphlets, leaflets or joint promotional activities, as well as provision of outsourced free neutering service for animals adopted through partner organisations. As at October 2011, the number of animals rehomed by the AFCD through its partner organisations this year has increased by some 22 per cent as compared with the same period in 2010. The AFCD will continue its efforts in this regard to further increase the number of animals to be rehomed.
An array of informative and entertaining activities will be held at the carnival including demonstrations by the AFCD's Quarantine Detector Dogs, educational exhibitions, game booths, animal health consultations and introduction of dog adoption services. There will also be a special games area for dogs and a photo booth for pets.
The carnival will run from 11am to 5pm. Admission is free. Dog owners can bring their dogs for licensing, microchipping and vaccination against rabies at the carnival. They will also each be presented with a souvenir while stocks last. Dogs entering the venue should be on a leash or kept under proper control by their owners.
For details of the carnival, please visit www.afcd.gov.hk.
Ends/Thursday, December 1, 2011
Issued at HKT 15:00
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