By South China Morning Post | Created at 2025-01-12 01:26:15 | Updated at 2025-01-12 04:08:04
3 hours ago
Hongkongers’ love of travelling during weekends and holidays has dampened their interest in keeping pets, a leading animal welfare group has said, adding that the number of cat abandonments last year outpaced adoptions.
Peter Lin, deputy director of welfare operations at the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), said the problem of feline abandonment after the pandemic stood out compared with cases involving other pets, with staff rescuing three to four cats every day, or even up to 14 at times.
“Many people are now able and willing to travel, from local trips to Shenzhen to destinations elsewhere, so caring for a pet has become a hindrance for some,” Lin said.
“Mass emigration has also sapped the number of potential adopters.”
He said the economic downturn could be a factor, with people more conscious about their spending and less inclined to cover the financial obligations that came with keeping a pet.
The SPCA handled 5,178 abandoned and injured animals found by its inspectorate in 2024, a 2.3 per cent increase from the previous year’s 5,059.
