Questionnaire

“Why are you considering giving up your pet?”

1. Is it because you are moving to a place where the keeping of pets is not allowed?

   In this case, you might consider moving to a “pet friendly” home. Many private housing estates allow the keeping of pets. Contact and consult your local real estate agencies to find out where these “pet friendly” homes are located.

   



2. Is it because you or your family member is suffering from allergies?

   You can visit a doctor and talk to your pet’s vet for possible treatments. They can offer advice on medication and/or products to use and tips to combat allergies. Sometimes extra grooming and removal of excess undercoat can reduce allergens. Not sleeping in the same room as the pet can sometimes help too.

   



3. Is it because your pet has behavioural problems?

   Some pets, such as dogs, enjoy company and love interaction with humans. They might bark frequently if left alone for many hours. Think about whether your pet’s behavioural problems are caused by your negligence. If you are willing to spend enough time and give adequate attention, love and care to your pet, their behavioural problems may improve alongside behavioural training.

   You can also consider taking your pet for obedience training.

   Finally, consult a vet to see if the problems are associated with a medical problem. The pet might be crying for help through exhibiting behavioural problems. In other cases, pain or abdominal discontrol may be expressed through behaviours such as howling or separation anxiety.

   



4. Is it because your pet causes nuisances to neighbours and you receive complaints from them?

   Check whether your pet is giving out unpleasant smell, making excessive noise, causing environmental hygiene problems and/or causing nuisances to others in your neighbourhood.

   Depending on the type of pet you are keeping, you will need to bathe your pet and clean its cage regularly, by doing so, you can reduce odour from your pet.

   Spend sufficient time with your pet and give ample attention to it. Your pet is your chosen companion. Your pet needs your attention. It is imperative to offer them ample socialising opportunity to reduce attention seeking behaviour.

   Finally, clean up after your pet and ensure that your pet is under proper control in public places at all times. In this way, you can keep the environment in your neighbourhood clean and can minimise the nuisances your pet might cause to other neighbours, proper management of your pet helps create a pet-friendly neighbourhood.

   



5. Is it because you are experiencing financial difficulties?

   You might consider changing to cheaper brands of pet food and pet supplies for your pet. Some Animal Welfare Organisations (AWOs) organise fund-raising events regularly, you might be able to find cheap pet supplies and get free pet food samples there.

   If you are unable to afford veterinary care for your pet, try to look for low-cost vet clinics, for example, those run by non-profit making voluntary AWOs. Some of them do offer veterinary care at affordable prices. You might also consider talking to your pet’s vet to see if payments in installments are possible.

   



6. Is it because you or your family members are unable to continue taking care of the pet due to old age, illness or other reasons?

   Discuss with your relatives or friends to see if they can foster your pet temporarily till you or your family member has recovered from illness. If you really can’t take care of your pet anymore, see if your relatives, friends or other AWOs can adopt your pet. Your relatives or friends may let you visit your pet in the future.

   



7. Is it because your family is expecting a baby?

   If your family is expecting a baby, give your pet a chance and time to adjust to the baby after it is born. If you prepare yourself and your pet well enough for the arrival of the baby, the pet is likely to get along with the baby. For example, before the baby is born, invite friends with babies to visit your home so the pet can get used to having babies around. Make sure you supervise all baby and pet interactions. You can also dress a doll with used baby clothes and newborn baby’s clothes to acclimatise your pet. Playing recorded crying babies’ noise in the house may also help to desensitise your pet.

   



8. Is it because you are leaving Hong Kong?

   Please consider taking your pet along with you if possible. The export of pets must comply with the veterinary health requirement of the importing countries/places. If pets need to be exported/relocated, the owner should prepare appropriate export documents for the pets when planning the trip. For more information about pet export, please refer to our website.

   


9. Is it because your pet is ill, injured and/or is dying?

   In most cases, time is essence. The earlier you seek veterinary help, the higher is the chance of survival. If your pet is dying, say, from a severe injury or terminal illness that is untreatable, and there is little you can do to change the situation, offering palliative care is the best possible option. Discuss with the vet on possible alternatives. In some scenarios, euthanasia to reduce suffering can be a gift you can offer your pet.

   If you have tried out all the above alternatives but still could not solve the problem and have finally decided to give up the pet, then you should first consider taking it to Animal Welfare Organisations to see if they could find a new home for it. Consider your last resort to take it to AFCD’s Animal Management Centres for surrendering.

   

Contacts for Animal Welfare Organisations
Contacts for AMCs