“HELLO KITTY! HELLO SPCA!”
The SPCA (HK) Joins Hands with Hello Kitty to Raise Awareness on Animal Welfare in Celebration of Her 50th Anniversary
(Hong Kong, 6 May 2024) The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Hong Kong) (“SPCA") today announces its partnership with Sanrio Hong Kong to celebrate two significant milestones – the celebration of Hello Kitty 50th anniversary and the inauguration of a brand-new SPCA centre in Tsing Yi. Under the theme “Hello Kitty! Hello SPCA!”, the iconic Hello Kitty will take on the role of an SPCA ambassador to bring together different generations of Hong Kongers and introduce different facets of animal welfare affecting our society. Together with her friends, Cinnamoroll, Pompompurin, and Pochacco from the Puppy Alliance, the cast of Sanrio characters will participate in a year-long campaign to promote responsible pet ownership and pave ways forward in reaching a more sustainable and harmonious pet-inclusive community for all.
The SPCA is the longest-standing animal welfare organisation in Hong Kong and has been actively engaging different sectors for over a century to define and enforce measures to ensure the safety and well-being of all animals. All these efforts are aimed at creating a better future for animals in the city. As we enter the new millennium, we are thrilled to welcome Hello Kitty, a cultural icon also with a rich heritage and a passion for the future, to join us in exploring and reframing the relevance of animal welfare in our current society. Hello Kitty is loved by people of all ages so we are blessed to have this opportunity to broaden our messages to a wider audience. We hope that people will extend their love for Hello Kitty to other equally endearing animals and increase the appeal to support animal welfare in their actions,” said Louisa Ho, Deputy Executive Director of the SPCA (HK).
“Hello Kitty is more than just a cartoon character. Since 1974, she has been the friend who has accompanied many children into adulthood. She connects the next generation and spreads love and culture that shape a better future. As we look forward to the next 50 years of Hello Kitty, along with other Puppy Alliance characters from Sanrio, we are very honoured to collaborate with the SPCA (HK) and be part of a campaign that promotes kindness to animals and fosters positive human-animal relationships. We hope this campaign will inspire everyone to be friends with animals,” said Caroline Tsang, Chief Operating Officer of Sanrio Hong Kong.
Throughout the year, Hello Kitty will champion animal welfare with the SPCA through various activities and channels.
Exclusive Collection Debut at "Premium Pet Supplies Expo 2024"
The collaboration will kick off with the launch of a series of limited-edition "Hello Kitty! Hello SPCA!" merchandise at the highly anticipated pet show “Premium Pet Supplies Expo 2024", set to take place on 10-12 May (Friday to Sunday) at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.
Apart from taking photos with eye-catching decorations featuring Hello Kitty in her new SPCA ambassador uniform, visitors will have the first opportunity to explore and shop for exclusive pieces at the SPCA booth (P25-26), including pet supplies and human accessories, featuring Hello Kitty and her SPCA friends.
Hello Kitty Welcomes You at SPCA Jockey Club Centennial Centre on 20 May
20 May, or “5/20”, is a date rich in symbolism and phonetically reminiscent of "I love you" in Chinese. To spread the message of love and respect for animals, Hello Kitty will be welcoming visitors at the new SPCA Jockey Club Centennial Centre (Tsing Yi Centre) from this day onwards. Visitors can join Hello Kitty in supporting the cause of animal welfare by purchasing a special limited-edition commemorative badge for HK$20 that symbolises their unwavering love for animals, raising funds for animals in need.
From 20 May, visitors will also find Hello Kitty taking on various roles critical to the operation of the SPCA, such as inspector, veterinary surgeon and animal caretaker or educator, and stationing at different locations across the new Centre. As SPCA ambassador, Hello Kitty will be showcasing the new Tsing Yi Centre in a special video to highlight its facilities and services that are designed to cultivate a more pet-inclusive society.
During the period, in addition to exploring the facilities and services available through the beloved character and a fun quest, visitors and fans of Hello Kitty are encouraged to take photos at adorable Hello Kitty-themed photo spots to capture memorable moments to share on social media. For visitors who want to get the first dibs, they can also explore a world of adorable treasures at the Centre's retail shop, featuring a more expansive limited-edition "Hello Kitty! Hello SPCA!" collection, exclusively available at the SPCA Tsing Yi Centre for the first month, before being available at all SPCA centres and online shop.
As part of this partnership, more fun-fill educational and fundraising activities will beannounced later this year. Stay tuned for more details on the SPCA Facebook and Instagram pages.
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