Where to adopt in Hong Kong
Updated: Jun 28, 2022
If you are looking to add a furry friend to your family, your first stop should be one of the numerous shelters across Hong Kong! There are many, many, MANY reasons you should adopt and not shop, but guest blogger, Kopal of @adoptdontshop shall just reiterate a few of those reasons below.
First and foremost, you’re saving a life. A animal adopted from shelter or rescue is getting a second chance at a good life. You might not know where they are coming from or what their story is, but the day you get them home, you will be giving them a new one.
Also, you will stop the terrible racket that is the breeding industry. While not all breeders are awful, it is a profit-making practice, and many dogs are used just to create puppies that can be sold for exorbitant prices. This is especially bad for breeds such as French bulldogs or pugs which have been bred for their looks and have terrible health conditions including breathing difficulties, hip and spine issues and other allergies. Similar things can be said for cats. Just read the news about the huskies or imported cats and dogs in cages.
It is also great on your pocket! While there are minimal costs for adoption, it is nothing compared to the cost of buying a dog or cat. In Hong Kong, a pet can cost tens of thousands of dollars, versus adoption which costs between 2 and 5 thousand dollars. You can use all the money you save to buy goodies for your new pet!
To make your adoption journey easier, here is a complete list of all the adoption agencies, shelters and rescues in Hong Kong from where you can adopt your new pet.
Catherine's Puppies
Catherine's Puppies, founded by Catherine Lumsden in 2015, opens daily between 11am-4pm.
They host regular adoption days at various locations across Sai Kung, including Centro and Pet Central. Address: Ho Chung, Sai Kung
Contact: Whattsap 6799 7530 for enquiries or email catherinespuppyhut@gmail.com
Website: www.catherinespuppies.com
Facebook: catherinespuppies
Instagram: @catherinepuppies
Guard For Stray Welfare Association
The name says it all! GFSWA help the stay dogs of Hong Kong, often Tong Gaus - or Hong Kong specials - to ensure they're all fighting fit before finding them their forever homes.
Address: Kam Tin
Contact: 6166 6106 or gfswa.org@gmail.com
Facebook: GFSWA
Instagram: @gfswa_org
HK Homeless Dogs
Founder, Angela Chan, will do whatever it takes to help the dogs at her shelter, and even resorted to selling her village houses, jewellery, and borrowing from banks to keep the shelter afloat when donations stopped amidst the pandemic
Address: Fanling
Contact: 2578 8396 / 63321611 or email hkhomelessdogshelter@yahoo.com.hk Website: www.hkhomelessdogsl.org.hk
Facebook: HKHomelessDogShelter/
Home for Homeless Dog
The shelter, located in a Tai Po village, is a relatively new shelter, having only established in 2019 and rescues injured, stray and newborn dogs.
Address: Tai Po
Contact: general inquiries 94033036 (WhatsApp Only) or for emergencies, contact 91955900 Website: www.hfhd.org
Facebook: Home-for-homeless-dog
Instagram: @homeforhomelessdog/
Hong Kong Dog Rescue (HKDR)
HKDR was founded in 2003 by Sally Andersen with a missions to rescue, rehabilitate and rehome abandoned and unwanted dogs. You can follow Sally's blog here of their latest results, or attend one of their regular adoption days at Whiskers and Paws, every Sunday between 2-4pm. To foster or adopt, fill out their fostering questionnaire or adoption questionnaire . Address:
Kennedy Town: Shop 4, G/F, Brilliant Court, Sai Hong Lane, No.28 Praya,
Tai Po: 6 Shek Lin Road
Contact: general inquiries: info@hongkongdogrescue.com
Website: hongkongdogrescue.com
Facebook: hkdogrescue
Instagram: @hkdr_official
Hong Kong Paws
HK Paws first started out in 2005 to provide financial aid, animal care, consultation and rehoming services. To foster for HK Paws, you can fill out their foster form Contact: 9485 5188 or kat@hkpaws.org
Website: www.hkpaws.org
Facebook: hkpaws
Instagram: @hkpaws_official
Hong Kong Saving Cats and Dogs Association (HKSCDA)
HKSCDA was formerly known as "Linda Cats and Dog House" and was established in 2007. They rescue stray cats and dogs and operate under the slogan "give animals a second chance".
Address: Tsuen Wan and Yuen Long
Contact: 98641089 or info@hkscda.com Website: hkscda.com
Facebook: HKSCDA
Instagram: @hkscda
House of Joy and Mercy
House of Mercy and Joy was set up by Ivy Tse in 2015, and is dedicated to saving abandoned and sick dogs and cats.
Address: Kam Tin, Yuen Long
Contact: 9619 8780 Facebook: 阿棍屋善行日誌
Instagram: @hjoyandmercy
Kelly Animal Shelter
KAS was established by Kelly Tse in in 2003 when she began feeding and rescuing abandoned dogs and rabbits. They operate under the slogan "Saving A Life Will Change Yours" out of their Lau Fau Shan base. To foster or adopt, please fill out their fostering questionnaire or adoption form Address: 流浮山深灣路尖鼻咀 Deep Bay Rd Lau Fau Sha, Hong Kong
Contact: 9775 5530 or hkkas2013@gmail.com
Website: https://linktr.ee/kellyanimalsshelter
Facebook: HKKAS2013
Instagram: @kellyanimalsshelter
Kirsten's Zoo
Kirsten's Zoo was established by Kirsten Mitchell in 2008. They host regular adoption days at Peak Cafe Bar on Shelley Street, every second and last Sunday of each month. To keep up to date with their news, sign up to their newsletter Contact: 5595 1933 Website: kirstenszoo.com
Facebook: KirstensZooCharity
Instagram: @kirstenszoo
Lifelong Animal Protection (LAP)
LAP was established by Sheila McClelland and is run by a dedicated team of volunteers. They operate our of their two shelters - one based in Tsuen Wan for their dogs, and another in Sai Ying Pun for their cats.
To foster, please fill out their Fostering questionnaire. Address:
Dog adoption: Allway Gardens Block E, 187 Tsuen King Circuit, Tsuen Wan,
Cat adoption: 11 First Street, Sai Ying Pun.
Contact: Team details here Website: lap.org.hk
Facebook: lap.org.hk
Instagram: @lap.org.hk
Love Adopt Animal Society
LAAS was established by Jacqueline Cheung in 2015 to educate the public who may have a fear of homeless or abandoned animals, and support independent volunteers in their rescue efforts.
Address: G/F, No. 6 Hoi Pong Street, Sai Kung
Contact: 5462 2868 and loveadoptas@gmail.com Website: www.laas.org.hk
Facebook: laas.hkg
Instagram:@love_adopt_animal_society
Love Fluffy Home
Love Fluffy Home was established in 2018 to help deal with all aspects of animal welfare and protection, whilst driving positive change towards adoption of rescues.
Contact: info@lovefluffyhome.org Facebook: LoveFluffyHome
Instagram: @lovefluffyhome
PAWMISELAND
Pawmiseland was establised by Erica Chan in 2016 and relies on fosters to operate. To help foster, please reach out via one of the following channels; Contact: Whatsapp 6878 8978 (Erica)
Facebook: Facebook Group Instagram: @pawmiseland_
Paws United Charity
PUC is a volunteer-run, non-profit organisation facilitating the rehoming of both cats and dogs. Both of their shelters are located at The Pulse. To foster, please fill out their foster questionnaire Address: Shop 210, 28 Beach Road, Repulse Bay Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Contact: 91302919 or hello@pawsunited.org.hk
Website: hpawsunited.org.hk
Facebook: pawsunitedcharity
Instagram: @puc.hk
PGRS Life
PGRS facilitate emergency rescues and life-saving veterinary care of pets, and rely heavily on fosters to take in their rescues. To adopt or foster, please fill out their adoption form and foster form Address: G/F, 131 Yee Kuk Street, Sham Shui Po, Kowloon
Lot 2030, D.D. 117, Tai Tong, Yuen Long, New Territories
Contact: 6999 4221 or info@pgrs.life Website: www.pgrs.life
Facebook: pgrslife
Instagram: @paws_grs
Rescue Centre for Abandoned Pets (RCAP)
Also known as RCAP, Rescue Centre for Abandoned Pets assist with the rescue, rehabilitation and adoption of stray and abandoned dogs and cats.
Address: No. 31, Upper Pak Nai, Lau Fau Shan, New Territories, Hong Kong
Contact: 2383 5553 or rcap.donation@gmail.com Website: www.rcap.org.hk
Facebook: rcaprcap
Instagram: @rcap_hk
Sai Kung Stray Friends Foundation (SKSFF)
SKSFF was founded by Narelle Pamuk, and play an active role in the rescue and welfare of stray dogs. Their shelter is based in Tai Lam Wu village and home to over 110 dogs. Address: 151 Tai Lam Wu Rd, Sai Kung
Contact: 9199 2340 or saikungstrayfriendshk@gmail.com Website: saikungstrayfriends.com
Facebook: saikungstrayfriendshk
Instagram: @sksff_
Society for Abandoned Animals (SAA)
SAA was established in 1997 and have been playing an active role in providing free neutering service for stray dogs since 2009 to help curb the growing numbers of strays. They operate out of their shelter in Pak Sha Village, Yuen Long to help rehome some of their rescues.
Address: Section 1, Pak Sha Village, Kiu Hing Road, Yuen Long, N.T
Contact: 2838 0633 or saa@saa.org.hk Website: saa.org.hk
Facebook: SAA.ORG.HK
Instagram: @saa_hk
Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA)
SPCA, previously RSCPA, has probably been the longest established animal shelter, having rehomed millions of animals from hamster, birds, rabbits to cats, dogs and reptiles since 1903. SPCA have multiple locations across Hong Kong and offer other services including veterinary, grooming, training and boarding services. Address: Multiple locations
Contact : 2232 5529
Website: www.spca.org.hk/en/
Facebook: SpcahkEng
Instagram: @spcahk
TAILS Lantau
TAILS (Team for Animals in Lantau South) is run by a dedicated team of volunteers and provide medical attention, protection and care to animals who have often been abandoned, neglected and abused.
Contact: 6464 2908 or info@tailslantau.org Website: www.tailslantau.org
Facebook: tailslantau
Instagram: @tails.lantau
Tobby's Friends Adoption
Tobby’s Friend is dedicated to helping the older, sick and overlooked local Hong Kong mongrels.
Contact: 5226 0801 or tobbysfriends@gmail.com Facebook: tobbyfriends
Villa Kunterbunt (VKBL)
Villa Kunterbunt, or VKBL for short, stands for “House of Variety” in German, and is run by founder Okka out of their volunteer-run shelter in Mui Wo. To adopt, please fill out their adoption questionnaire Address: Mui Wo, Lantau Contact: 9544 9181 (Okka) Facebook: vkblantau
Instagram: @vkblantau
Whiskers N Paws
Whiskers N Paws is primarily a pet store for all of your pet-rearing needs, with grooming facilities, outdoor space and a cafe. WnP regularly host workshops, and adoption days for HKDR every Sunday, and is also home to a cat, hamster and rabbit rehoming section Address: 10/F Horizon Plaza, Ap Lei Chau, Hong Kong
Contact: 2552 6200 or 9696 6200
Website: www.wnp.com.hk/pages/adoption
Facebook: WhiskersNPaws
Instagram: @whiskersnpaws
And if it is overwhelming, which this process very much can be, a good place to start is to follow the instagram account, @adoptdontshop - they collate a number of dogs available for adoption currently! Also join the facebook groups Hong Kong Foster Pawrents and Hong Kong Dog Owners for more information.