On 29 November 2008 Animals Asia celebrated the work of dogs in the Hong Kong community with our annual Dog Devotion Awards ceremony, which returned to its traditional November slot after the delayed 2007 ceremony in February.
The event took place at Ma On Shan Ling Liang primary school, in the Hong Kong New Terrritories. Over 70 dogs and their owners received awards, including public service dogs from Hong Kong government departments, and our own Dr Dogs and Professor Paws. In all, close to 200 people attended the event.
The awards were presented by representatives of the Hong Kong community, including Mr Chau Wong Chong, the vice principal of Hong Chi Winifred Mary Cheung Morninghope School; Or Hau Yee, the Resident Service Co-ordination Manager of the Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Nursing home; Animals Asia Honorary Director Miss Gigi Fu; and Animals Asia staff, including our founder and CEO Jill Robinson who was ably assisted by Dr Eddie.
Award winners
The awardees included Charles, Oakley and Molly from the Hong Kong customs services, police dogs Daisy and Captain, and Dexter from the fire service who arrived sporting his protective boots!
Our Outstanding Professor Paws winners were Professors Baby, George, Jack, Lucky, Charlie, Bailey, Rosie, Judy, Fat and Choi. Francine Conran, Debbie Langford, Janice Jensen, Jayne Kim-Schrantz and Mara McCaffrey received recognition as Outstanding Teaching Volunteers.
Our Diamond Award winner this year was Dr/Professor P Jai and his guardian Tran Gia Le. Drs Jumbo, Jink, and Struppi received long service awards after many years supporting our Dr Dog programme.
Two special posthumous awards were given to Mary, guardian of Dr Rumba, and to Mon Chan, guardian of Dr/Professor Cookie, both of whom passed away earlier this year after many years of dedicated service on our programmes.
The Dr Ocha Memorial Award was given to Dr Tung Tung, a rescue dog who went through 4 homes and has battled long term illness including cancer, to continue working as a Dr Dog and Professor Paws.
A group of “Pet Cadets”, fourth graders from Ma On Shan Ling Liang primary school who have graduated from our Professor Paws programme, entertained the audience with a wonderful rendition of the Pet Cadet song. We were also delighted to welcome 10 volunteer students from the Hong Chi Winifred Mary Cheung Morninghope School for children with learning disabilities, accompanied by social worker Esther Chan, who celebrated the event with us and interviewed Gigi Fu and some of the awardees.
The event was generously sponsored by Hills Petfoods and gfoto Ltd..
Huge credit must go to everyone who was involved in putting the event together. We are also really grateful for the generosity of Principal Sylvia Chan and her staff at Ma On Shan Ling Liang primary school, for providing the venue and helping to make the event run so smoothly, and for all the support they have given our programmes over the years.
But most of all, we would like once again to thank all our volunteers, both canine and human, who give their time and support so generously, and without whom these programmes wouldn't be possible.
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| Dexter from the Hong Kong Fire Services Department receives his award from Gigi Fu. |
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| Dr P Jai and his guardian Tran Gia Le, receive the Diamond Award from Jill. |
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| Pet Cadets from Ma On Shan Ling Liang School pose with Principal Chan and the Hong Kong customs service dogs. |
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| Professor Paws teaching volunteers on-stage to receive their awards from Animals Asia's Chelsea Tsuchiya. |
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| Dr Tung Tung and his guardian Amy Lo, receive the Dr Ocha Memorial Award from Gigi Fu. |
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