October 2008 - Our Dr Dogs put smiles on the faces of Hong Kong's HSBC staff.
Our Dr Dog Animal Therapy programme found a new role, when our four-legged doctors visited offices of the HSBC bank in Hong Kong on 17 October 2008.
Invited to participate in HSBC's events to celebrate Work-Life Balance Day, Animals Asia's Dr Dogs visited four HSBC sites around Hong Kong throughout the day.
The response was overwhelming, with masses of office workers flocking to our stand to meet the Dr Dogs, and receive some much-appreciated stress-relief therapy during these times of financial turmoil!
The day started with a visit to HSBC's offices at Taikoo Shing, where Dr Cha Cha, Dr Eddie and Dr Goldie charmed a much larger than expected turnout.
Peter Wong, the Executive Director of HSBC, and a keen dog enthusiast, attended the second visit at HSBC's Central offices. He met with Dr Cha Cha, Dr Eddie, Dr Lucky and Dr Remy and their guardians, and spent a long time talking enthusiastically with our founder Jill Robinson, and Animals Asia staff and volunteers, about our programmes. At times he was almost swept off his feet by excited HSBC staff trying to take their turn to meet the dogs.
From there, we travelled to Tai Kok Tsui, where Dr Baby, Dr Bebi, Dr Eddie, Dr Jack, Dr P Tsai, Dr Pancake and Dr Waltz spread their calming therapeutic influence to all who attended.
The Animals Asia team at Tai Kok Tsui.
We finished the day at Tseung Kwan O, HSBC's information technology centre, where IT staff rushed away from their computer screens to laugh, smile and relax in the company of Dr Eddie, Dr Micky and Dr Yat Yat.
Dr Eddie put in an especially hard day's work, attending all four venues. Rescued from a live animal market in southern China in 2001, Dr Eddie is a poignant symbol of all we plan to achieve. Eddie (short for “Edible”) was just hours away from a brutal death when Animals Asia founder and CEO Jill Robinson saw him crammed in his cage and decided to give him a second chance. Today this scruffy, adorable dog is now showing the amazing benefits that animals can bring to people.
Everyone who attended the HSBC events left with a smile on their face, and Jocelyn Endean from Senior Management Administration at HSBC, who initiated the event, reflected on the day afterwards: “The dogs worked their magic... people are still talking about it today... a great way to end the week”.
Jill Robinson with Peter Wong and some of Animals Asias team at HSBC's Central offices.
Animals Asia Foundation would like to express our thanks to all the management and staff at HSBC, for inviting us to be part of their event and allowing our Dr Dogs to spread their warmth and love to so many people. Particular thanks go to Peter Wong, Executive Director of HSBC; Jocelyn Endean of Senior Management Administration; Maverick Leung, Sports and Recreation Manager; and Amy Ngo from Corporate Employee Services. And of course, our thanks go to all of our Dr Dogs and their guardians for the hard work they do. Our Dr Dog programme appears to have found a whole new corporate role to explore!
HSBC Executive Director Peter Wong enjoys some personal therapy from Dr Eddie at HSBC's Central offices.
Dr Baby works her magic at Tai Kok Tsui.
Peter Wong gets to know Dr Lucky as his guardian, our lovely volunteer Ann Williams looks on.
