According to concern groups, buyers are often unaware of the dark side of the pet industry, where cats and dogs are kept in cramped quarters and treated like “baby machines”. The animals endure incredible suffering as breeders churn out puppies and kittens to meet demand.
ADP Pentagon Pets, which operates the Q-Pets and Red Carrot chains, has now partnered with the Non-Profit Making Veterinary Services Society to co-host adoption days and help rehome unwanted animals.
The first two events, on July 14 and 28, will focus on cats. The first will take place from 1.30pm to 5pm at the Mong Kok Red Carrot store on Tung Choi Street, with up to 30 cats available for adoption. Adoption days for dogs will take place later.
“The trend of halting animal trading [and instead] promoting adoption is prevalent around the world,” says Yip Yuk-tat, managing director of ADP Pentagon Pets. “As a responsible company, we believe we should follow the mainstream and reform our policy.”
Over 200 cities in 26 US states have passed bills banning the sale of animals originating from pet farms. Meanwhile, the UK is planning to prohibit the sale of puppies and kittens under the age of six months by third parties starting from April next year.
According to a 2018 report by the Hong Kong Legislative Council’s research office, 1,147 unwanted pets and 3,880 strays were taken in by the government’s four Animal Management Centres in 2017. The same year, the centres euthanised 2,660 animals and rehomed 749.
Meanwhile, pet owners dumped 658 unwanted animals on the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) in the 2017/18 year, when it also took shelter of 687 strays, the society says.
“ADP Pentagon Pets’ reform can help more citizens to pay attention to animal welfare,” says an SPCA spokesperson. “We hope more pet stores can follow to give up selling animals.”
ADP Pentagon Pets, which will now focus on selling pet products and grooming services, previously sourced animals from breeders in Hong Kong and overseas, Yip says. The company had been considering reforming its business for a decade, but stockholders and employees objected over concerns about income and salaries.
Yip adds that the company has been educating staff about animal welfare and reassured employees their wages would not be affected much.
“I think now is the right time to reform,” Yip says. “I hope people can stop and think before buying a pet.”
The company has also pledged to partner with other animal protection groups in Hong Kong, establish adoption stations, and place donation boxes in all its pet stores.
The Veterinary Services Society welcomes the company’s willingness to change its business model and stop the trade in animals.
“No buying, no abusing. There’s darkness behind the innocent appearance of animal trading,” says Mark Mak Chi-ho, the society’s executive chairman.
He says animals living in many private breeding facilities suffer long-term abuse because market demand generates huge profits, and animal rights are neglected.
Mak has visited pet-breeding facilities in Hong Kong and says up to 200 dogs can be crammed into a 20-square-metre (215-square-foot) space. Each dog generally becomes pregnant twice a year over a period of five years.
He recalls the particularly galling site of one lame and limping dog in such a place.
“Even though the dog was in such poor health, she still had to keep giving birth to puppies,” he says. “It was one of the most tragic things I have ever seen.”
The society does not have premises to home animals, but dedicated fosterers have provided temporary shelter and the non-profit holds its own adoption days, Mak says.
Those hoping to adopt a pet must meet certain criteria. Public housing tenants can adopt a spayed cat but not a dog. Comfortable living conditions are a basic requirement. Mak says adopters need to provide proof of address and pledge that the animals will not be sold or eaten. The society’s staff also regularly visit adopters’ homes to check on the animals’ welfare.
“For example, if cat litter is not well-prepared, we will make an appointment to revisit,” Mak says.
The society has hosted 190 adoption days since it was established in 2005. Last year, it found new homes for a total of 56 cats and dogs.
Mak says the organisation has consistently exposed the dark side of the pet trade in Hong Kong and sought to promote adoption.
“I felt happy when ADP Pentagon Pets decided to reform its business,” he says, “It’s quite difficult for such a large group to reflect on its operation and step forward to change.”
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