93,000 sq. feet pet welfare center funded by HKJC opens in Tsing Yi

The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) opened its Jockey Club Centennial Centre (Tsing Yi Centre) on Tuesday aiming to act as a flagship hub for animal welfare and education for the public, with The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust having donated HK$300 million towards its construction.

Over 8,000 square feet of the Center are dedicated to the animal adoption department, while the additional 14,000 square feet are allocated for animal birth control and welfare work.

The center also features the largest animal hospital in the New Territories, with the operating room and ward area occupying 16,500 square feet, expected to be rolled out in the second half of the year.

It features surgical and body-check services, and the SPCA hopes to conduct magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography scans in the future.

In addition, the center also provides pet-friendly areas and facilities, such as a pet balcony with an ocean view, conference rooms, a pet-friendly beauty area, etc.

The adoption center is already in full service and the dog foster care service is set to commence in late March.

The education hub will feature four classrooms and include the first-ever immersive animal welfare classroom in Hong Kong. It will educate children from kindergarten to primary school and increase their understanding of animals and welfare issues through various equipment and interactive activities.

The location of the new center also helps the SPCA shorten its response time for animal rescue calls in the New Territories, where rescue demand is the greatest.

HKJC chairman Michael Lee Tze-hau said during his speech at the opening ceremony that the facilities in the new center will not only help fulfill the needs for animal welfare but will also facilitate education for animal care and respect for life.

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