SPCA (HK) lends its full support to
Desexed in the City - Hong Kong's First Desexathon
(HONG KONG, 17 September 2009) The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Hong Kong) [SPCA (HK)] is in full support for Hong Kong's First Desexathon campaign, "Desexed in the City", organised by STOP (Save Hong Kong's Dogs and Cats).
SPCA (HK) has always stressed the importance and benefits of desexing our companion animals to the animals themselves and the community. All companion animals adopted from the SPCA (HK) are desexed (except hamsters, birds, turtles and reptiles). Owners who acquire their companion animals from other avenues are encouraged to desex their animals either at one of the SPCA's seven veterinary clinics, the Animal Welfare Vehicle or to apply for discount vouchers from the SNAP (Spay and Neuter Assistance Programme) which can be used in more than 40 veterinary clinics (including the SPCA) throughout Hong Kong. Stray cats and dogs are also cared for in terms of spay and neuter through the SPCA's Cat Colony Care (CCCP) and Community Dog (CDP) programmes. More than 25,000 stray cats have been desexed since the implementation of the CCCP in August 2000. Although the Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) Programme for dogs is still pending a green light from the government, the CDP did manage to desex dogs from construction sites or similar facilities to help reduce uncontrolled breeding of this population.
"Our veterinary clinics conducted more than 11,000 desexing operations in the fiscal year of 2007/08. We believe that by doing so we are not only contributing to animal birth control, we are also bringing a healthier and happier life to our companion animals," says Dr. Jane Gray, Chief Veterinary Surgeon and Deputy Director (Veterinary Services) at the SPCA (HK).
Desexed in the City will run from 21 to 27 September 2009. SPCA (HK), Chris & Nicola's Animal Hospital, Sanctuary, Nine Lives, Stanley Veterinary Centre, HEART, SAA, LAWC, LAP and HKalleycat all support this meaningful event.
The learn more about Desexed in the City, please browse www.hkstop.org or refer to the enclosed press kit for more information.
The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (HK)
The SPCA (HK) was formed in 1921 by a group of volunteers. Throughout the decades, the SPCA (HK) has worked for the humane treatment and protection of animals. It has fought animal abuse, and through educating the community has promoted humane understanding and the community's responsibility to protect and co-exist with animals. Its message continues to be that RESPECT FOR LIFE BEGINS WITH CONCERN FOR ANIMALS.
The SPCA (HK) has introduced a number of programmes to help the government to improve animal welfare. Besides finding new caring owners for the abandoned and strays, the SPCA (HK) promotes animal birth control through the various programmes introduced, allowing the owned, loosely-owned and stray animals to be desexed. The SPCA (HK) also operates seven animal clinics throughout Hong Kong, some of them also equipped with surgical facilities, to provide welfare for animals.
The SPCA (HK) continues its efforts to ensure that people and all animals can co-exist in harmony.
For more information, please contact the SPCA (HK) on 2802 0501, or reach:
Mr. Michael Wong - Deputy Director, Community Development
Tel: 2232 5573
Email: michael.wong@spca.org.hk
Ms Zoe Yeung - PR and Communications Officer
Tel: 2232 5514
Email: zoe.yeung@spca.org.hk
Date: 17 th September, 2009
Desexed in the City - Hong Kong's First Annual Desexathon
In order to enroll and inspire the public into action around the benefits from the spaying and neutering of their pets, Hong Kong's STOP - Save Hong Kong's Dogs and Cats and their partners are launching Hong Kong's first 'desexathon'.
Animal desexing is a standard medical procedure veterinarians use to help improve pet health and prevent unwanted animal pregnancies. Desexed in the City is Hong Kong's first desexathon, a 1-week campaign in which veterinary clinics and animal welfare organisations are uniting to make desexing more attractive for the public.
Desexing pets is still a widely misinterpreted operation, with pet owners choosing not to desex their pets. However, with the huge percentage of pets that have not been desexed, Hong Kong is plagued with litters of abandoned puppies and kittens that are discovered every day. Some 2,000 dogs and cats killed every month by Hong Kong's Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, and desexing is considered the best approach for reducing accidental/unnecessary animal births.
Desexed in the City draws attention to the animal-health benefits of desexing, making the procedure even more accessible over a 1-week period. With more than 20 clinics participating in the desexathon, this is the first time so many groups have united on such a campaign.
The desexathon is one way that STOP is helping improve Hong Kong 's animal welfare status. The desexathon follows in the footsteps of the successful Safe Sex 4 Pets event, held 3 June 2009. STOP endeavours to bring greater accountability to Hong Kong's pet trade, as well as facilitate a "Trial Trap, Neuter and Release" (TNR) programme for dogs, which has been stalled by the government for over 5 years.
Desexed in the City Promotion period: 21- 27 September 2009
Participating Clinics and Animal Welfare Organisations: The Hong Kong SPCA; Chris & Nicola's Animal Hospital; Sanctuary; Nine Lives; Stanley Veterinary Centre; HEART, SAA, LAWC, LAP and HKalleycat.
For more information please visit http://www.hkstop.org/ or contact Brooke Babington at brookebabington@hotmail..com
Reference
DESEXED IN THE CITY FACTSHEET
Glossary
Desexing : Stopping a pet from being able to make or have babies. It involves a routine veterinary procedure that benefits pet owners, the pet and the city.
Spaying : The operation on a female pet, where a qualified veterinarian removes the pet's ovaries and uterus.
Neutering : The operation on a male pet, where a qualified veterinarian removes the pet's testicles.
Desexing Benefits
• Pets live longer. Spaying and neutering helps prevent breast cancer; prostate problems; hernias and anal tumours; and eliminates the risk of testicular, ovarian and uterine cancer. It also reduces the risk of sexually transmitted diseases such as venereal tumours in dogs, and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) in cats.
• Pet will lead a healthier life. This means lower vet costs in the long run.
• Pet will stay closer to home. Dogs and cats will do anything to mate, including escaping and running away from home.
• Helps the community. Desexing pets prevents unwanted pregnancies and prevents the abandonment of unwanted kittens or puppies. Abandoned animals disturb the public and often end up being caught and killed.
• Pet may behave better. A dog's personality will be the same, but problems like excessive barking and aggression may stop after the operation.
Desexing Myths
• It's inhumane to stop pets from reproducing. It's not wrong or inhumane to stop pets from having litters; it's far worse to let pets have litters that are abandoned or killed.
• Preventing my pet from reproducing means I won't be able to reproduce. Stopping your pet from reproducing does not stop your family line from reproducing. There is no scientific evidence of this.
• Pets gain weight from the operation. The only way pet gain excess weight is if they are over-fed and do not exercise.
• Pets will lose their personality. A pet's personality is not tied to its ability to reproduce.
• Desexing is expensive. The operation is minor and can be as little as a few hundred dollars. Veterinary bills for diseases not getting pets desexed typically cost a lot more.
About STOP
STOP! Save HK's Cats and Dogs began 12 years ago as the HK No Kill City Forum. It was an open forum for early NGOs to air their animal welfare concerns. However, with animal shelters now at full capacity, funds running out and as the situation in Hong Kong worsened, the group reformed with a stronger, fresh mission. STOP's new focus and agenda for 2009 is to take action, to educate the mass public without alienating them, to lobby the government on animal welfare issues, and to gain community support as a whole.
