For the time being, HKR, which operated Discovery Bay, has announced that this pet-friendly bus will run on four Sunday market dates, 11 May, 8 June, 14 September, and 12 October, and two dedicated routes will connect key areas of Hong Kong to DB Plaza:

• Bus No. PBD1 will run Tseung Kwan O to Kai Tak to DB Plaza
• Bus No. PBD2 will operate Tuen Mun to Tsuen Wan West t0 DB Plaza.

For easy reference, refer to the table summarising the departure times:

PBD1 (Tseung Kwan O Kai Tak DB Plaza)

PBD2 (Tuen Mun Tsuen Wan West DB Plaza)

Tickets are priced at HK$68 per ride for one passenger with one pet, HK$136 for two passengers and one or two pets. Advance reservations are needed, so travellers should download KMB App1933 (Android / iOS) and visit the Pet Bus Booking Page in the APP to secure their spot.

Across Hong Kong, pet inclusivity is growing. The city now counts 170 pet-friendly parks after adding 54 more in 2023 (see Hong Kong gets 54 more pet-inclusive parks), and Hong Kong Airlines has recently opened routes allowing pet owners to bring pets in-cabin to Japan, reflecting a broader shift towards welcoming animal companions into everyday life.

Header Image Credit : HKRI/KMB

Pet cabin available only on Japan routes for now

For the first time, passengers can fly with their furry companions right beside them, rather than placing them in the hold. This unique offering is currently available only on select routes to Japan, including Tokyo (NRT), Osaka (KIX), and Nagoya (NGO).

However, on the way back to Hong Kong, all pets will be kept in the plane’s climate-controlled cargo, and there are different rules to follow regarding the booking of the tickets, the bag requirements, and the weight limit, currently set at 8 kilos. Check this page to see all the rules.

What other upgraded services can passengers expect?

The pet travel service is just one part of Hong Kong Airlines’ wider upgrade plan. The new baggage policy offers Economy Class travellers 23kg checked baggage (plus 7kg carry-on) and Business Class passengers a generous 64kg (two pieces, 32kg each) plus 15kg of cabin baggage.

Inflight dining has been elevated with signature Cantonese dishes crafted in collaboration with Michelin-starred Ming Court. Meanwhile, the Club Autus lounge at Hong Kong International Airport, upgraded in partnership with Plaza Premium Group, now provides an enhanced premium experience.

Passengers also benefit from improved online check-in, with free adjacent seating for children under 12 and more complimentary seat selection options.

Looking ahead, Hong Kong Airlines is expanding fast. Daily non-stop flights to Sydney should be launched on June 20, marking its second Australian route this year.

Meanwhile, has climbed back to ninth place among the world’s busiest airports, showing strong recovery even if operations remain slightly below pre-pandemic levels. One last thing for travellers to keep in mind, since April 7, power banks are banned on flights, so make sure your devices are fully charged before take-off.

Header Image Credit: Andy Blackledge (Flickr) / Melv_L – MACASR (Wikimedia Commons)

Living in a small apartment doesn’t stop Hongkongers from having their furry companions as part of the family. In fact, Hong Kong’s pet market has exceeded HK$6.2 billion and remains one of the hottest ultra-premium pet markets in Asia.

Run by a team of passionate pet lovers, PetShack understands that your pets deserve the best quality supplies and they are definitely dedicated to keeping your four-legged friends happy and healthy. Indeed, these little buddies are like us as they deserve yummy yet healthy treats. 

From premium food and healthcare products to fun toys, this online store sources its offerings globally and delivers a wide range of top-notch dog and cat products right to your doorstep. 

Did we mention they also support animal shelters to help rescued pets find loving homes?

PetShack: Your Go-To Shop for Furry Friends

PetShack firmly believes pets are part of the family that makes us better humans. That’s why it curates a world-class selection of essentials brands, including Purina, Royal Canin or Frontline Plus products, dedicated to the well-being of your pets.PetShack offers a wide range of food for your dog or treats and snacks for your cat will love, including air-dried, freeze-dried, frozen raw and wet food. Think nutritious options like ZiwiPeak lamb, K9 beef, or Stella & Chewy’s chicken recipes. There are also puppy-friendly diets and natural snacks for sensitive stomachs.

Looking for treats? From freeze-dried salmon bites to air-dried chews and dental sticks, PetShack makes rewarding and training your pet easy. On top of feeding your four-legged pals, PetShack further covers health and playtime. Its health products cover every basic need, from flea and tick protection to ear, eye, and skin care. 

And your furry friends will go crazy with its toys, including chewables, fetch games, plush buddies, and puzzles. Of course, you can also shop high-quality supplies from pet beds, grooming tools, leashes, collars, harnesses, backpacks, life jackets, feeding bowls, and cat litter solutions. Yes, they do have everything online.

Friendly Prices for Your Furry Friends

PetShack keeps costs paw-sitively affordable. 

Its Fresh Upon Receipt Promise guarantees fresh, quality products arrive with more than three months of shelf life. PetShack offer free delivery on orders over HK$200 (except remote areas and outlying islands), a great deal in Hong Kong, volume discounts, and seasonal deals. If you know exactly what your dog or cat loves, PetShack also offers up to 5% off on recurring deliveries with their Autoship & Save subscription.

On top of that, you can join the PetShack Family for exclusive perks: earn Pet Points with every purchase and redeem them for pawsome gifts.

Sign up as a member today and receive 10% off on your first order, plus get 2000 Pet Points instantly!

About PetShack

• Website: https://www.petshack.hk/ 
• Instagram: petshack.hk
• Facebook: PetShack HK
• Phone number: +852 5618 5164 (Whatsapp)
• Email: info@petshack.hk

MTR’s New Rules on Pet Travel

The Cat/Dog Carrying Trial Scheme will begin on May 1, 2025, and will last two months. Parents must first get a digital pass on the MTR app that costs HK$99, which they can buy from April 11 and need to renew every month. Only feline and canine companions small enough to fit in pet carriers or backpacks with combined dimensions of 170cm are allowed on the Light Rail. Commuters with pets can only board and alight from the last door of a light rail vehicle, and should stay at the rear of the train during their trip. While there are no size restrictions on cats, the MTR will not allow large dogs weighing more than 20 kgs, fighting dogs, and known dangerous dogs that should be muzzled and leashed onboard.

Pet-Friendly Transit Policies in Hong Kong

Earlier this month, there were reports that the railway operator would change its rules about animal travel, and it was thought that pets might be allowed onboard regular trains during non-peak times. However, passengers will only be able to take cats and dogs on the Light Rail, which covers neighbourhoods in the northwestern New Territories like Tuen Mun and Yuen Long. The new rules do not apply to the recently launched Tuen Mun Voyager, the city’s first sightseeing Light Rail service. 

It was also reported that the KMB, Hong Kong’s largest bus company, was considering allowing pets on their regular routes. Last year, the operator started pet-friendly bus tours across West Kowloon and parts of the New Territories, which also runs only on weekends and public holidays.

Image credits: SPCA Hong Kong

MTR and KMB’s Planned Pet-Friendly Policies

According to media reports, MTR plans to announce their new rules surrounding pet travel within the first half of 2025. While the firm is likely to place size limits on pets and require them to travel in bags or carriers when boarding trains, they may even create special compartments for household animals. The railway operator will reportedly conduct a trial on weekends to see how the public responds to the move, and then extend the service to non-peak hours on weekdays.

KMB, which has the largest fleet and runs the most bus routes in Hong Kong, will also permit small domestic animals onboard during off-peak periods, provided they remain in containers. This move builds upon past efforts to support pet-friendly travel. Last year, the company launched pet-friendly bus tours across West Kowloon and parts of the New Territories on weekends and public holidays.

Limited Transport Options for Pet Owners in Hong Kong

Official government data shows that nearly 242,000 households in Hong Kong have dogs and cats as pets, accounting for 9.4% of all residences in the city. However, commuting with pets within the SAR is not easy as trains, buses and trams only allow guide dogs onboard, while ferry, public light bus and non-franchises bus companies have discretionary policies surrounding domestic animals.

Many pet parents opt for taxis, but this option comes with its own share of challenges. While taxis charge HK$5 per animal or bird, drivers can refuse to accept passengers with pets. Ride-hailing app Uber has a pet service by which passengers pay HK$20 to get matched with a driver who accepts pets for trips.

Image credits: LN9267 via WikiCommons

What do the Macau pet wedding packages include?

While many hotels in Hong Kong are pet-friendly venues for nuptials, the Grand Coloane Resort in Macau is getting in on the rising trend of dog weddings in Mainland China with their Furry I Do’s Pet Weddings Package. It includes everything you need for the ceremony — think dapper tuxedos for the groom and elegant dresses for the bride, a marriage certificate issued by the hotel, and special cakes, meals and treats for the four-legged couple.

Pet parents can hold the wedding at the resort’s Garden Lawn or Garden Marquee, or even indoors in the Fire Place area. The offer — which starts at MOP 458 (HK$445) per adult, and MOP228 (HK$222) per child and pet — includes floral centrepieces for all tables and the use of equipment like an LCD projector, screen, PA system, and microphones. The package is available until June 30 this year.

Why host a pet wedding?

The idea behind these pet nuptial arrangements came from the idea of helping pet owners celebrate their love for their fur babies in a memorable setting. And considering that half of Hongkongers spend up to HK$5,000 a month on pet expenses, the notion of a pet wedding may not be so far-fetched. “As a pet-friendly resort, we understand the profound bond between pets and their owners. This initiative aims to offer creative solutions for pet owners who want to celebrate their beloved companions with a wedding in Macau,” a spokesperson from the Grand Coloane Resort told The HK HUB.

Image credits: Grand Coloane Macau

The trips will be on specially designed coaches or double-decker buses that will run from 10am-4:45pm, at 30-minute intervals. The routes will include pet-friendly destinations like Art Park in West Kowloon Cultural District, the Sai Kung Promenade, Tung Wan Beach in Ma Wan, and the Pets Park at New Town Plaza in Sha Tin. Each ticket will cost HK$35 and allows for just one pet. KMB club1933 members can get a HK$10 discount on their tickets.

While Hong Kong has many pet-inclusive and pet-friendly parks, there are not many forms of public transport in the city on which pet parents can take their furry friends. MTR passengers are not allowed to bring animals on board trains and franchised buses, unless they are guide dogs accompanying the visually impaired. And according to Hong Kong’s Road Traffic (Public Service Vehicles) Regulations, an animal can only enter a taxi if the driver allows it. However, 18 outlying islands ferry routes allow pets onboard, with restrictions governing leashing, muzzling, and which part of the ferry they can occupy.

Click here to book tickets on the KMB pet tour buses.

Header image credits: LN9267 via WikiCommons, KMB

Paw Social HK — Central

This conveniently located spot bills itself as a shop and bar that caters to the pet community in the city. Customers will find an array of quality food that is hypoallergenic and free of artificial flavours. You can also stop by for care products and apparel, and even order cakes for your four-legged friend’s special day. If you want to meet like-minded pawrents, check the store’s socials for deals on beverages and puptails on weekday evenings and other special occasions.

Location: Shop C, LG/F, 14-15 Wa In Fong East, Central
Opening Hours: 11am-7pm
Contact: Website | Instagram | Facebook | info@paw-social.com

Puppy Love Pet Grooming — Sai Ying Pun

Want to give your beloved furry friend to some TLC? Head to this Sai Ying Pun store for their Japanese-style grooming and all-season indoor pool. You can opt for a simple haircut and nail trim, or treat your four-legged pal to some splash time. You can drop off your pet at the store, and the staff will strap on a swimming vest and play with them — or you can even step into the pool for extra fun! Puppy Love also has their in-house line of care products and snacks that you may see on the shelves here or at flea markets around town.

Location: 9 Leung I Fong, Sai Ying Pun
Opening: 10:30am-7:30pm (closed Mondays)
Contact: Instagram | Facebook | pupplylove.hk@gmail.com

Exotic Creatures — Mong Kok, Yuen Long

If you lean more towards the cold-blooded sort of animal companion, then Exotic Creatures should have just what you’re looking for. They specialise in reptiles and reptile products, as well as products for cats and dogs. Stop by if you’re looking for lizards, tortoises, or geckos, as well as tanks, bedding, and landscaping equipment to make them feel at home. If you have fish, you can also browse their tanks, stands, filters, UV sterilisers, LED lighting, and food.

Location: 11/F Rammon House, 101 Sai Yeung Choi Street South, Mong Kok | 16 Full Yau Court, 51P Yau San Street, Yuen Long
Opening Hours: Depends on the store
Contact: Website | Instagram | Facebook | +852 2652 5522

Hidden Gems — Sai Ying Pun, Tsuen Wan

Touted to be Hong Kong’s first zero-waste pet supply store, Hidden Gems has an online shop and physical stores for environmentally-conscious pet parents and their babies to shop for food, apparel, grooming kits, health supplements, and toys. Everything in their refill section is either recyclable, reusable, or sustainable — and they even allow furry customers to sample small quantities of their treats to help reduce the store’s carbon footprint and yours. They sell locally-made supplies and have partnered with EcoCart to make sure that all online orders are carbon-neutral.

Location: Shop 5, Island Crest, 8 First Street, Sai Ying Pung | Shop 101, The Mills, 45 Pak Tin Par Street, Tsuen Wan
Opening Hours: Depends on the branch
Contact: Website | Instagram | Facebook | +852 9864 0982 (Sai Ying Pun), + 2185 6656 (Tsuen Wan)

Pet’s Lagoon — Mid-Levels

Pet’s Lagoon sells supplies and food for dogs and cats, but they’re more popular for their grooming services. The friendly and experienced staff are great with first-time four-legged customers, and send before and pics to pawrents who drop off their fur babies for nail care, cleaning, bath, combing and teeth-whitening sessions. Make sure you give the resident Chow Chow a cuddle while you’re there!

Location: Shop 4, Ryan Mansion, 31-37 Mosque Street, Mid-Levels
Opening Hours: 10am-8pm
Contact: Facebook | +852 9021 8212

Whiskers N Paws — Ap Lei Chau, Tseung Kwan O

This is one of the best known pet stores and animal welfare communities in Hong Kong, and a visit here is a fun outing for pets and their pawrents. While most animal shops in the city cater to dogs and cats, Whiskers N Paws also has smaller animals, like rabbits and hamsters. The TKO branch has a retail store, café, and grooming services, but if you want a longer outing, head to the one in Ap Lei Chau, which has a large outdoor area where pets can play leash-free. In fact, the Ap Lei Chau store runs regular adoption drives, and even takes in rescues.

Location: 10/F, Horizon Plaza, 2 Lee Wing Street, Ap Lei Chau | Shop 358, The LOHAS, Tseung Kwan O
Opening Hours: Depends on the store
Contact: Website | Instagram | Facebook | +852 2552 6200

Birdy House — San Ko Pong

Birdy House started out as an online store in 2011 that sold bird toys online. They now specialise in providing parrot owners food, snacks, supplies, and toys for their feathered friends. Head here if you want the latest handmade parrot products from Taiwan and Japan, or if you want to learn how to make cute toys and cookies for your parrot pal. Birdy House also runs a Parrot Hotel if you need to take a trip out of town and leave your parrot in trusted hands.

Location: Room 02, 12/F, Max Trade Centre, 23 Luk Hop Street, San Po Kong
Opening Hours: 1pm-8pm (closed Thursdays)
Contact: Website | Instagram | Facebook | +852 3480 9001

The Dog’s Garden — Multiple Locations

The Dog’s Garden is a chain of stores across Hong Kong that was started by two sisters to provide cleaning and grooming services, and premium products for canines and felines in safe, interactive play spaces. They pride themselves on their speciality freeze-dried snacks — think Chicken and Ginseng Cookie, Ground Beef, and Salmon Bites — and also sell wagons, beds, clothes and other pet essentials. While the Admiralty and Kowloon Tong branches are retail-only, the other outlets provide haircuts, baths, nails and ear care, as well as micro bubble and Ayurveda herbal spas. They also do pop-ups across Hong Kong, so keep an eye on their socials to find out if they’re planning one near you.

Locations: Across Hong Kong. View addresses here.
Opening Hours: Depends on the branch
Contact: Website | Instagram | Facebook | +852 2886 3390

Honey Pet Shop — Multiple Locations

Honey Pet Shop has 5 branches on Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and in the New Territories that are well-stocked with food, toys, and cute accessories. They may have convenience store vibes, but pets are more than welcome to visit and explore the aisles. Head here during Mid-Autumn Festival for special pet mooncakes and Chinese New Year for festive caps — but these goodies sell out quickly, so you may want to place orders online for whatever you’d like to get if you can’t make it to a brick-and-mortar store in time. And if you’re planning on having a birthday party for your canine or feline, you can choose a yoghurt cake for your celebrations.

Location: Across Hong Kong. View addresses here.
Opening Hours: Depends on the store
Contact: Website | Facebook | +852 2499 0111

Fishmanshop — Mong Kok

This store has been around since 2007 and started as a 300 square feet space that sold general aquarium supplies. They have since expanded their premises to 1,500 square feet from which they sell and breed reptiles and amphibians, such as frogs, snakes, lizards, and tortoises. Customers also come here from across Hong Kong to buy terrariums, temperature and humidity monitors, and other equipment. They also sell food for small animals like rats, guinea pigs, and chinchillas.

Location: 13F, Silver Commercial Building, 719 Nathan Road, Mong Kok
Opening Hours: 12pm-9pm
Contact: Website | Instagram | Facebook | +852 3188 5655

Header image credits: Whiskers N Paws, Puppy Love Pet Grooming, Fishmanshop

Following renovations in 2021, the Wan Chai hospital is now equipped with an upgraded facility, designed to create a more comfortable and caring environment for animals. The new treatment area and ward layout have been carefully planned to streamline the animal treatment process, and provide a calm environment to reduce stress in our hospitalised patients. Notable improvements include enhanced cat and dog non-infectious wards and isolation wards, state-of-the-art ICU units with temperature-controlled oxygen chambers, and a ward specifically for exotic animals.

Comprising a team of 26 veterinary surgeons, the SPCA takes pride in its exceptional veterinary professionals, known for their diverse backgrounds and extensive expertise.

Dr. Jane Gray, Chief Veterinary Surgeon at the SPCA, said, “We are extremely excited to reopen our veterinary 24-hour hospital, offering a high standard of animal care to pet owners in Hong Kong at a reasonable cost. With state-of-the-art equipment and a team of highly committed professionals, we are confident that our hospital will serve as a centre of excellence for animals needing care beyond their home environment. Currently, the SPCA receives approximately 1% of its funding from the government. By supporting the SPCA’s veterinary services, pet owners are also supporting its ongoing animal rescue and welfare work.”

The Wan Chai Centre’s clinic operates from Monday to Saturday, with scheduled clinic hours from 8:50 am to 5:30 pm. 24-hour veterinary emergency and hospital services will be available from 3 June 2024.

To learn more about the SPCA’s veterinary services and to schedule an appointment, please visit SPCA’s website at https://www.spca.org.hk/what-we-do/vet-services/.

Due to factors such as emigration and other circumstances, the number of people opting to adopt mongrels has sharply declined. Meanwhile, the number of rescued animals continues to rise. As a result, all three adoption centres run by the SPCA are currently at full capacity, with over 100 dogs eagerly waiting to find their forever homes. Mongrels, particularly adult mongrels, face even fewer opportunities to find their forever homes despite possessing excellent qualities such as being calmer and easier to train.

Not only will the rescue dogs from the SPCA adoption centres be joining the “Dog Adoption Date” and interact with attendees outside their kennels, but participants will also have the chance to meet the “unseen” dogs – mongrels that are ready for adoption but currently still in foster care or other areas not accessible by visitors due to the lack of kennels across the SPCA adoption centres.

This event will provide a unique opportunity for these deserving dogs to meet potential adopters in person and finally find their perfect match.

Entry to the event is free, and there is a fee to attend the workshops. All fees will go towards the medical and daily expenses of animals at the SPCA.

Socialisation For City Dogs Workshop

This one-hour session will be run by SPCA dog trainer Sunny Tang, who will conduct some quick drills during the workshop. It will cover the basics of a dog’s walking manner, how to handle a dog’s interaction with children and strangers, and the dos and don’ts when outdoors. It will be followed by brunch at Interval.

Time: 10.30am-11.30pm (workshop), 11.30pm-12.30pm (brunch)

Price: HK$550

Location: CyberArena and Interval | Farmacy

Personalised Dog Tag & Coaster Workshop

This workshop conducted by MessyJam will teach participants how to make their own dog tags and coasters using resin gel. Over the course of one hour, participants can choose their own dog-shaped moulds, use glitter and their favourite colours, dried flowers, and even their pet’s fur solidified under UV light to create their tags. There will also be brunch after the event.

Time: 10.30am-11.30pm (workshop), 11.30pm-12.30pm (brunch)

Price: HK$650

Location: Interval | Farmacy

3-3-3 Rescue Dog Rule Presentation X Your Dream Adoption Date

This event starts with a half-hour presentation by Sunny detailing what to expect three days, weeks, and months after you adopt a rescue dog. It will be followed by a session in which participants can interact with some of the SPCA’s rescue dogs.

Time: 2pm-2.30pm (presentation), 2.30pm-4pm (interaction session)

Price: Free

Location: CyberArena

Header image credits: SPCA(HK)-Eng via Facebook

The new outlet has plenty of low indoor seating and a spacious layout so that pets and their owners can move around easily. The outdoor seating area is great for customers with bigger pets who need more room.

Several new pet-friendly spaces opened in the city in the past few months. Recently, the government opened 54 new pet-inclusive parks across the territory. In addition, two privately owned pet-friendly gardens were unveiled at K11 Musea and Tai Yuen Commercial Centre.

Header image credits: Starbucks Hong Kong via Facebook

The designated pet-inclusive areas at Ma On Shan Promenade and Sha Tin Park will be open for three months on a trial basis.

These venues, unlike the city’s pet gardens, are not designed specifically for pets. They are existing parks recently outfitted with facilities such as dog excreta collection bins and hand-washing facilities. The last time the government opened up such premises in the city to pets was in April 2022, when it added 62 parks to its list of pet-inclusive parks, most notably at Sun Yat Sen Memorial Park and Central Pier Waterfront.

The newest additions, which will open on June 13, will bring the city’s total number of pet-inclusive parks to 170.

Pet owners must adhere to the Users’ Code that applies to these parks, which includes keeping dogs on their leashes, cleaning up after pets if they make a mess, and ensuring that pets do not cause a danger or nuisance to people and other pets in the park.

In July 2022, the Hong Kong government opened 12 additional pet-friendly parks, making the total number of such parks in the city 115. The LCSD also has 52 dedicated off-leash dog and pet gardens across several districts in Hong Kong, some of which have facilities such as play equipment, drinking fountains, and lawns specifically for pets.

Last month, two privately owned pet-friendly gardens opened at K11 Musea and Tai Yuen Commercial Centre. And if you’d like to have some fun in the sun with your furry friends, check out the pet-friendly beaches where they can run free.

Header image credits: przemyslawiciak via Canva

K11 MUSEA Pets Garden

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K11 MUSEA has transformed Bohemian Garden’s pet-friendly outdoor space into a landscape in the English countryside. Pets can frolic on a green oval lawn with life-sized Mini Cooper installations, such as benches and station signs. There is also a special parking station for pet trolleys.

The space will also host a grooming workshop conducted by the SPCA on June 10, as well as pop-up stores selling pet products.

Play Eat Tai Yuen

The new “Play Eat Tai Yuen” 20,000 square feet pet garden on the commercial centre’s first-floor podium has several attractions for furry friends and their owners, such as a 3.5-metre-high rainbow donut, a banana slide, and pet-friendly restaurants.

There will also be several pet-centric events at the venue, such as a pet school workshop (June 3), pet massage workshop (June 4), a photo shoot session (June 10), and a pet adoption day (June 10-11).

Hong Kong currently has 103 government-run pet-friendly parks and 52 dedicated off-leash dog and pet gardens. If you’d like to have some fun in the sun with your furry friends, check out the pet-friendly beaches where they can run free.

Header image credits: K11 Musea and Tai Yuen Commercial Centre

From April 29 to 30, dog owners will be able to enjoy a 45-minute ferry ride with their furkids and take in the iconic skyline and architectural structures of the city.

Designed for dogs, DOG DOG Shipcation will embark on a 45-minute-long ferry ride across the Victoria harbour starting from Central. Along the way, there will be plenty of photo opportunities against the backdrop of the harbour’s iconic skyline and architectural structures that make it unique, including the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center at Wanchai and the Clock Tower at Tsim Sha Tsui.

To top it off, each furkid will receive a sailor-themed hat and bandana, a customized certificate as well as other gifts to make the experience a lifetime memory. All fees and donations from the event will go towards the medical and daily expenses of animals in need at the SPCA.

Event Details

Image and content credits: SPCA

Before cat or dog adoption, it’s essential to consider whether you’re able to handle the responsibility of a pet. Pets are lovely and sweet and adorable, but they also take commitment on the part of their owners. It is a shame to think that some of these animals are actually returned to shelters or abandoned because their adoptive families weren’t adequately prepared for pet ownership.

It’s also important to adopt for your lifestyle, not for aesthetics. You might love the look of a border collie or Great Dane, but as some of the most active dog breeds, you need to consider whether you’re regularly active enough to provide them with the fulfilling exercise they need to live happily.

Dog adoption

Catherine’s Puppies — Sai Kung

Catherine, who was named Sai Kung’s Person of the Year in 2018, founded and runs Catherine’s Puppies. They are a small rescue dog shelter, known for their adorable puppies that get adopted very quickly!

Be sure to follow them on social media if you’re looking to adopt a furry baby to join your family. 

Contact: +852 6799 7530 (Whatsapp only) or catherinespuppyhut@gmail.com

HK Homeless Dog Shelter — Fanling

The owner and founder of this shelter, Angela Chan, moved to New Territories after retiring as a flight attendant instructor for a major airline in Hong Kong.

Seeing the number of stray dogs in the area, she decided to establish this charity. They have homed 400+ dogs since they were founded! 

Contact: info@hkhomelessdogsl.org.hk

Guard For Stray Welfare Association — Kam Tin

GFSWA is a not-for-profit organisation that helps find forever homes for dogs and puppies in Hong Kong.

They aim to help the local tong gaus (Hong Kong mongrels) with their medical needs before finding them new homes.

Contact: +852 6166 6106 or gfswa.org@gmail.com 

Hong Kong Dog Rescue — Ap Lei Chau and Tai Po

One of the most well-known dog rescues and shelters in Hong Kong, HKDR has two shelters, Ap Lei Chau that has the smaller dogs and puppies, and Tai Po, which hosts their larger dogs.

With over 600 dogs currently in their care, they will have the perfect dog that you are looking for!

Contact: info@hongkongdogrescue.com

Kelly Animal Shelter — Lau Fau Shan

Kelly Tse established Kelly Animal Shelter, with their slogan, “Saving A Life Will Change Yours”. With her own savings, and financial support from her friends, she built the kennel at Lau Fau Shan, aiming to save the abandoned animals in Hong Kong.

Currently Kelly provides safe home for more than 200 dogs that are looking for homes.

Contact: +852 9775 5530 or hkkas2013@gmail.com

Pawmiseland

Dog adoption centre Pawmiseland was started in 2016 by Erica Chan when she and her team found two abandoned mothers and almost a dozen puppies in a terrible environment, infested with rats, snakes, and insects.

Since then Pawmiseland has helped home many dogs, and they truly believe that it is man’s duty to help animals, in particular dogs.

Contact: +852 6878 8978 (WhatsApp)

Paws Guardian Rescue Shelter — Yuen Long

Hong Kong Paws Guardian is a nonprofit organisation that helps dogs. It has four key programs: fostering, adoption, sponsorship (paying for the upkeep of a specific dog) and donation for medical emergencies.

They are also always looking for volunteers for daily on-site work, dog walking, emergency rescue, fostering, and event organisation.

Contact: +852 6999 4227 or info@pgrs.life

Rescue Centre for Abandoned Pets — Lau Fau Shan

The volunteers for RCAP have been working to help the dogs of Hong Kong since 1995, and in 2006 they formally established their dog adoption centre.

Their many dogs enjoy the shelter in Lau Fau Shan, New Territories, but they are all looking for furever homes!

Contact: +852 2383 5553

Sai Kung Stray Friends Foundation — Sai Kung

Along with the shelter, they also have a meals-on-wheels program and run TNR operations to reduce the number of strays. There are over a 100 dogs at the shelter looking for a home!

The volunteers at SKSFF are a group dedicated to rescuing stray, abandoned, sick and injured dogs and providing them with medical care and rehabilitation.

Contact: +852 9199 2340 or saikungstrayfriendshk@gmail.com

Tobby’s Friend Adoption

Tobby’s Friend is dedicated to helping the overlooked dogs, specifically the older and sick local Hong Kong mongrels.

Along with adoption services, they also provide a Senior Buddies Workshop, that helps teach humans how to help these older dogs specifically with alternative treatments. 

Contact: +852 5226 0801 (WhatsApp) or tobbysfriends@gmail.com

Villa Kunterbunt Lantau — Lantau

Villa Kunterbunt means “House of Variety” in German, and they help rescue and re-home dogs and puppies of all breeds and ages.

Along with a wonderful shelter in Lantau that holds most of their rescues, VKB also has a wonderful set of fosters that care for their dogs while they wait for adoption. 

Contact: +852 9544 9181 or iamivypoon@gmail.com

Home for Homeless Dog — Tai Po

Home for Homeless Dog (HFHD) is located in Tai Po and is dedicated to finding pawrents to senior dogs.

They currently have between 30 and 40 senior dogs who are looking for their forever homes.

Contact: +852 9195 5900 or info@hfhd.org

Dog and cat adoption

Hong Kong Paws — Discovery Bay

HK Paws aims to raise awareness of animal welfare issues and to reduce the large number of dogs and cats that are abused or abandoned every day.

Hong Kong Paws Foundation (HK Paws) is operated on a 100% voluntary basis that helps rehome all the kitties and puppies that they receive.

Contact: +852 9485 5188 or info@hkpaws.org

HKSCDA — Tsuen Wan and Yuen Long

Established in 2007, HKSCDA is committed to providing food, medical care, sterilization, and adoption services for stray cats and dogs.

Their incredible set of volunteers that do house visits before adoption have helped home thousands of cats and dogs! They have a cat shelter in Tsuen Wan and a dog shelter in Yuen Long.

Contact: +852 9864 1089 or info@hkscda.com

House of Joy and Mercy — Ma On Kong

The House of Joy and Mercy takes in and provides temporary care for the injured, weak, pregnant, and old dogs and cats.

They also help find forever homes for these animals, and often the kittens or puppies of the pregnant animals.

Contact: +852 9619 8780 or housejoymercy@gmail.com

LAP— Tsuen Wan and Sai Yin Pun

LAP (Lifelong Animal Protection) exists to help animals in Hong Kong to find a warm home.

One project to promote adoption is a partnership with the Society for the Aid and Rehabilitation of Drug Abusers, where the interaction helps both the men and the dogs.

Contact: +852 6477 1492 or info@lap.org.hk

Love Adopt Animal Society — Sai Kung

LAAS has two key missions: to rescue homeless and abandoned animals and find them their forever homes, and to promote the correct concept of owning domestic animals and its responsibilities through positive education.

Their Sai Kung shelter usually has about 25 animals there.

Contact: +852 6162 9870 or loveadoptas@gmail.com

Love Fluffy Home

Established in 2018, Love Fluffy Home is an dog and cat adoption organisation that deals with all aspects of animal welfare and protection of animal rights. 

They aim to prevent animal suffering, drive positive changes with the objective of protecting, rescuing, and saving lives, re-home animals in their best interest.

Contact: info@lovefluffyhome.org

Maison De Charlotte — Yuen Long

Over the last 25 years, owner and founder, Miss Chen Huizhen has rescued countless cats and dogs and helped provide them homes.

Their shelter in Yuen Long currently has over 190 furry babies, all looking for their furever home.

Contact: +852 6466 9306 or maisondecharlottehk@gmail.com

Paws United Charity — Repulse Bay

With their mission to rescue, rehabilitate, and re-home animals in Hong Kong, the volunteer run organisation is working hard to improve the lives of their rescues.

They have a cat adoption and dog adoption centre in Repulse Bay that you can visit between 11am-6pm every day!

Contact: +852 9130 2919 or hello@pawsunited.org.hk

Society for Abandoned Animals — Yuen Long

Over the last 2 decades, their key aim is to help re-home these animals, but they also help provide animal blood to pet owners as well as medical services in their “Animal Medical Centre”.

Additionally, they organize public education activities as well as visiting individuals in need such as the elderly and handicapped.  

Contact: +852 2838 0633 or saa@saa.org.hk

Team for Animals in Lantau South (TAILS) — Lantau

TAILS has an exceptional and dedicated team of volunteers, including a certified veterinarian nurse, a canine behaviorist, and a registered veterinary surgeon. Thus, they are able to provide full medical and rehabilitation services.

Their adorable dogs and cats spend time at fosters before they’re ready for adoption!

Contact: +852 6464 2908 or info@tailslantau.org

Cat adoption

Cat Society Hong Kong — To Kwa Wan

Elaine Chan and Lian Ma started Cat Society in 2007, which helps to home and neuter stray cats that have been abandoned because they’re elderly, sick, or physically handicapped. They welcome volunteers to help care for the group of cats they house and provide medical care for in their To Kwa Wan shelter.

If you’re unable to adopt a cat, you can also donate HK$100 per month to sponsor a cat and receive monthly updates and pictures!

Contact: adoption@catsocietyhk.org

Dogs, cats, and small animal adoption

Kirsten’s Zoo — Wan Chai

Kirsten’s Zoo has a cat sanctuary but most of their animals in their care are in foster care, and therefore find it easier to make a transition to their permanent home.

Along with dogs and cats, Kirsten’s zoo has also helped home small animals such as hamsters, guinea pigs, parrots, and even a leopard gecko!

Contact: +852 5595 1933 or kirstszoo@hotmail.com

SPCA

Since 1903, the SPCA has helped animals through a variety of services including rescue and re-homing, medical treatment, sterilization, conducting investigations into animal cruelty cases, and lobbying to improve the animal protection laws in Hong Kong.

You can visit the animal rescue’s many branches across Hong Kong to meet the animals available for adoption.

Contact: +852 2802 0501

Whiskers N Paws — Ap Lei Chau

Whiskers N Paws is your one stop shop for all things pet-related.

While they are best known for their retail store, they also have grooming services, a café, AND they partner with animal rescues to help pet adoption!

Their huge store in Ap Lei Chau often has puppies from HKDR, cats from LAP and small animals from SPCA. 

Contact: +852 2552 6200 (call), +852 9696 6200 (WhatsApp), or community@wnp.com.hk

Reptile, amphibian, rabbit, or bird adoption

Hong Kong Society of Herpetology Foundation — Kwun Tong

HERP is the first registered charity that advocates for the rights of amphibians and reptiles.

Since 2004, they have helped +2300 animals, including snakes, turtles and lizards. They also host a variety of educational events to promote awareness and conservation of endangered species. They also provide information for adopters about how to care for their animals.

Contact: +852 2751 3533 or admin@hkherp.org

Hong Kong Reptile and Amphibian Society

The HKRAS is a non-profit animal rescue organisation devoted to reptiles (snakes, lizards, turtles, tortoises, etc) and amphibians (frogs, toads, salamanders, newts, caecillians).

They have also helped arthropods (such as spiders, scorpions, insects), mammals (such as ferrets, sugar gliders, hedgehogs, skunks, rabbits, chinchillas, hamsters, rodents), birds, and fish.

Contact: info@hkras.org

Hong Kong Rabbit Society — Mong Kok

Rabbits are the third most neglected animals in Hong Kong, after dogs and cats. Thus HKRS provides a full range of services, including receiving and re-homing abandoned rabbits, sterilization, medical care, training, and even grooming. 

You can visit their centre in Mong Kok to meet the rabbits, and also buy the relevant merchandise to support their operations.

Contact: +852 3580 0050 or hkrabbit_org@yahoo.com.hk

Hong Kong Bird Shelter and Rescue — Lantau

As most pet birds in Hong Kong are not indigenous to the region and cannot be released into the wild, HK Bird Shelter and Rescue provides them with a safe and secure environment when they are abandoned.

They are mostly a shelter that keeps the birds, but they occasionally have birds for adoption.

Contact: +852 9220 6365 or hongkongbirdshelter@gmail.com

FAQ about pet adoption in Hong Kong

Where to start?

While all of this can be a bit overwhelming, don’t worry, we have some amazing resources that can help you with your adoption journey!

One Facebook and Instagram page to follow is @adoptdontshop.hk, as they collate information from all the above organisations to provide a platform to help people adopt dogs and cats.

You can also follow specific groups, if you’re looking to adopt a dog of a specific breed, or a black cat or dog.

Hong Kong has an incredible dog community, especially ones that support adoption. You can join the group Hong Kong Dog Owners,  which shares great information about all things dogs in Hong Kong! There is also a Hong Kong Pet Owners group, which includes information about dogs as well as cats.

Header image credits: Victor Grabarczyk via Unsplash

Building on its reputation as one of the city’s most popular hotels for “dogcations”, Hyatt Centric Victoria Harbour Hong Kong has launched a first-of-its-kind dog hotel boarding service, which allows furkids to staycation in style and comfort even while their pawrents are away. Pet parents can enjoy peace of mind while their dogs board in a guestroom on our dog-friendly floor, cared for by our Dog Ambassador staff members, who are experienced dog-owners. Four-legged guests will enjoy daily relax-and-exercise sessions at our Upper Farm Doggy Playground outdoor terrace, and be monitored by the Dog Ambassador team via an in-room web camera.

For those looking to spend quality time together with their pets, the hotel has also introduced new dog-friendly amenities to enhance the experience for all doggy families. Furkids will get to “yum cha” from a special “Doggy Dim Sum Cart” on The Farmhouse’s outdoor Garden Terrace, and dog parking hooks have also been installed so pawrents can easily enjoy The Farmhouse’s buffet spread. 

The dog hotel boarding service is priced from HK$800+10% per night, and available from March 16, 2023 onwards. To book, contact the hotel directly: email hkgct.reservations@hyatt.com, call +852 3762 1234 or Whatsapp +852 6450 7132. The Farmhouse’s Garden Terrace is open for reservations by both hotel guests and visitors, but guests who book a Centric Dogcation package will also enjoy 35% off the breakfast buffet and 30% off the lunch and dinner buffets.

Image Courtesy: Hyatt Centric Victoria Harbour Hong Kong

The theme for the 2023 Dogathon is Sunshine Walk, and there will be several installations for participants and their canine friends to pose in front of before they begin the walk. In addition, the event will feature the PET X Handicraft Marketplace, SPCA Charity Sales, a Wishing and Lock Wall, a Woof and Bricks Art Walk, Agility Games, and educational talks about pet care by professionals.

Participants can enter the event as individuals or as teams. While all applicants will receive a T-shirt and bandana, everyone who completes the walk will receive limited-edition medals and a certificate of appreciation.

Pet parents and their dogs who reach specific donation amounts will take home special gifts such as calendars and online dog care courses, and teams who raise an average of HK$1,000 per person will get a one-hour-long pet-friendly ride on the Star Ferry with their dog.

This is the first time the Dogathon has been held since 2020, when Hong Kong Disneyland Resort played host to the event.

Header image credits: SPCA