Surrendering a pet

Cat owners can become overwhelmed by the offspring of their un-desexed pets. Unsurprisingly, surrendered cats are often not desexed and many surrenders could be avoided if this simple process had been carried out.

The second most common reason for cat surrenders is when owners leave Hong Kong and decide not to take their cats with them. Taking your cat with you if you leave Hong Kong can be done but it does take ex

Families sometimes opt to surrender their cats when there is a pregnancy or newborn in the family, even though many people raise babies and children alongside their cats together with no problem.

Expectant mothers worry about Toxoplasma gondii which can pose a threat. Specifically, infection via a cat’s faeces can cause problems for the baby. However, risk of exposure from cats is far lower than that from other sources, such as eating undercooked or raw meat, or handling raw vegetables and not washing your hands well afterwards. Studies have revealed no correlation between cat ownership and infection.

During pregnancies, husbands and other family members can help clean out the litter tray. Having someone else change the litter tray is the best way to avoid exposure to your cat’s faeces. Those who do clean out the cat’s litter tray should wear gloves and wash their hands thoroughly afterwards. Wash your hands after handling your cat and try to keep it indoors to prevent transmission from other cats.

Sometimes family members may be concerned that the presence of a cat can trigger health problems in a child. This is largely unfounded and recent research suggests that the benefits of growing up with a pet, particularly before the age of 5, boosts the immune system.

Almost 500 rabbits, guinea pigs, chinchillas and hamsters are surrendered to the SPCA by their owners every year with hamsters making up more than half of the total.

Though guinea pigs, rabbits and chinchillas can be desexed, pet owners who choose not to do so find that they not only have more animals than they bargained for but will also have to deal with behaviour issues like mating related aggression, as well as possible health problems of un-desexed animals.

Hamsters in particular, are prolific breeders and can have more than 50 babies a year! They are solitary by nature, so are fine on their own and keeping more than one hamster can result not just in breeding but also fighting. Hamsters can be extremely aggressive and have been known to kill cage mates.

Allergies are the main reason for the surrender of rabbits and guinea pigs. They are triggered by specific proteins in an animal’s saliva, skin glands as well as urinary/reproductive tract that are left on their fur during grooming or shed on furnishings. The type of allergen can vary from species to species, and the amount that triggers the allergy varies from animal to animal. That’s why some people are allergic to some cats, but not others!

However, don’t immediately assume allergic reactions must be due to a pet. Allergies can also be triggered by a multitude of different allergens, including dust mites, pollen in the environment or other items in your home.

Consult your doctor about the particular allergen and explore other management strategies. Some pet owners have managed their allergy using High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters, a pet free room or delegating pet grooming or bathing duties to non-allergic family members.

Despite the fact that small furries are often considered an “easy” pet for children the novelty often wears off and the animals are surrendered once the reality of daily care sets in. In fact, almost 20% of rabbit owners and more than 40% of chinchilla owners find the daily care of these animals too much.

Remember that rabbits, guinea pigs and chinchillas have relatively long lives. Rabbits and guinea pigs can live up to 10 years and chinchillas up to 15 years – almost as long as a dog or cat. They need special diets and though they may not need to be walked like dogs, they still require space to run around and exercise.

The welfare and health of turtles, snakes and lizards is often compromised by their owner’s lack of knowledge, resources and ability to care for them properly. The poor welfare of such animals is of particular concern as they suffer more acutely in captivity. However, the keeping of exotic reptiles is on the rise.

Today, the majority of reptiles we receive have been abandoned. Animals are brought to us after being found in ponds, country parks, public gardens, rubbish points and even the MTR. We have found land tortoises that have been released into ponds but drowned because they are not adapted to swimming while there are numerous examples of fresh water turtles being released into the sea where they dehydrate and die.

Their release into Hong Kong’s natural areas threatens Hong Kong’s native reptiles with competition for food and habitat, as well as introducing diseases and parasites that native animals may not necessarily face.

More often than not, reptiles that are surrendered or abandoned are in very poor condition and show signs of long term suffering – a direct result of their owners’ long term neglect or ignorance.

Aside from a lack of knowledge, the same reasons that cats, dogs and small furries are surrendered also apply to reptiles:

Unlike dogs and cats, reptiles can grow exponentially in size. While Red-Eared Sliders may only measure 5cm and weigh less than 50 grams when they are bought from a pet shop, they can grow to more than 30cm and weigh up to 2 kilograms.

This means that they quickly outgrow the tiny tanks that pet shops often sell with the turtle. After paying less than HK$20 for the turtle, owners are unwilling to spend the thousands of dollars necessary for a suitably-sized tank, the appropriate diet, proper lighting and filtration. Simply put, owners did not do their research before acquiring the turtle and then do not want to deal with their reptile’s growing needs, costs and long life span.

Few people realise how long reptiles live. Reptiles live twice and sometimes three times as long as cats and dogs. Moving house is part and parcel of Hong Kong life but some owners find they do not have the space to accommodate their pet, or simply no longer want the pet in their new home.

Moving country with your reptile is often more complicated than moving with a cat and dog. Special permits may need to be obtained to import your pet legally when you move. Even when it is possible, some owners find it too much trouble to move with their reptile and give them up instead.