Therapy dogs in high demand: Hong Kong programme booked out until February 2027

A Hong Kong therapy-dog programme run by one staff member and 65 volunteers with their dogs is fully booked until February 2027, as demand from schools, hospitals and elderly homes continues to outstrip the available visiting slots.

Animals Asia’s Dr Dog and Professor Paws programmes rely on volunteers who give up their time, shoulder much of the cost of transporting their dogs and return regularly to venues across the city.

“None of it would be possible without the volunteers,” said Karina O’Carroll, Animals Asia’s animal welfare education manager. “There would be no programmes.”

The volunteer team has been named a finalist in the teamwork category of this year’s Spirit of Hong Kong Awards, co-organised by Sino Group and the South China Morning Post.