By Jay Scott Kanes

LAMMA ISLAND, Hong Kong -- Searching for affection and permanent homes, dozens of animals from Lamma have begun commuting through the urban jungle of Hong Kong’s Central Business District.

“Our country-bumpkin animals have been going urban,” said Sheila McClelland of the charity Lamma Animal Protection (LAP).

Once a month, LAP’s human volunteers take 20 or more homeless dogs and cats to hold special “homing weekends” at Cosmos Pet Services, a veterinary clinic and grooming centre at 27 Robinson Road in Mid Levels on Hong Kong Island.

There, the needy animals meet friendly people. A big sign and posters lure in passing pedestrians from the street.

“The homing weekends are hard work, but very successful,” said Sheila. “They significantly increase our adoptions. It’s wonderful to introduce the animals to such a wide audience.”

Commuting with the animals can be a huge task. “We rely on volunteers, many of them the same foster parents who provide short-term homes,” Sheila said.

Volunteers make the rounds to collect the participating critters at foster homes. With the dogs on leashes and cats in pet-boxes, they must follow a precise schedule. “If we miss the suitable ferry, we may need to wait two hours for another that allows animals,” Sheila said. “In Central, we’re met by a van, or we load the animals into taxis.”

On the return journey, with taxis more elusive, the LAP team may create an unusual procession of dogs and cat-toting humans, all descending the stairs by the Mid Levels escalator.

At one recent weekend event, six cats and three dogs found homes. The prospects for others improved as people enjoyed cuddling them and promised to consider adopting.

“One adopted dog, a little guy named Philip, had been severely injured by someone pouring acid or hot oil onto his back,” Sheila said. “He wasn’t a pretty sight. He’d had much of his fur shaved for medical treatment, and the splash-wounds remained visible. Yet he’s a very loving creature.”

Jessie, a two-year-old husky, and Megan, a brown puppy, stayed busy greeting visitors. Nearby, the cats waited in cages, some napping. Others, like Willow, a dark Persian, watched alertly, ready to meet “that special human”.

“In her foster home, Willow likes to sit, watch TV and purr,” Sheila said. “We rescued her with other cats from an animal-breeder. She came to us with her fur crinkly and dry from malnutrition, but she’s healthy now.”

The Lamma animals, being more familiar with small villages and green hillsides, often react with amazement to the sights, sounds and smells among Central’s skyscrapers. Taxi rides can fascinate them.

Many of the dogs stare out the windows “the whole time” while making the “classic dog sounds” that imply “ooh, yes, what’s that, wow and aah”, Sheila said. “They go from the side window to the back window to the other side window.”

Animals successful at the “homing weekends” relocate to their new “digs”. There, they may gain permanent window views and regular strolling routes within the urban jungle. The others return to Lamma, ready to commute again the next time.


Megan and volunteer Claire
make a most charming pair.



Fluffy-cat Willow watches for a 'special human'.
(Lamma Animal Protection photo)


Hopeful cats look out, eavesdropping
as the people nearby discuss adoption.


Sheila and Megan both have compelling eyes.


Sheila (right) introduces Megan to an admirer.

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