Link Asset Management Limited is helping to provide care and support to more than 500 people aged 65 and over in Hong Kong after making a generous donation through its flagship charity and community programme “Link Together Initiatives” to animal welfare charity, Animals Asia.

Through its “Link Together Initiatives” programme, Link Asset Management Limited (Link) has pledged to support the Animals Asia Dr Dog programme, an initiative which provides animal assisted therapy to people in hospitals, community centres and care homes.

Launched in 1991 by Jill Robinson, founder and CEO of Animals Asia, Dr Dog involves volunteers taking registered therapy dogs into hospitals, disabled centres and homes for the young and elderly to stimulate people emotionally and physically.

Link Together Initiatives was established by Link as its flagship charity and community programme to support eligible charitable organisations to launch relevant service projects that benefit the communities near Link’s properties. Since its launch in 2013, a total donation of around HK$28 million was made to support 64 projects and launch a university scholarship programme, serving half a million people in need.

This Link Together Initiatives programme is sponsoring more than 100 animal assisted therapy visits to elderly homes between October 2015 and the end of September 2016 around Hong Kong, benefiting over 500 elderly. The majority of the elderly homes are based in Ap Lei Chau and Wong Chuk Hang in Hong Kong, and Kowloon Bay, Kwun Tong, and Sham Shui Po in Kowloon.

Karina O’Carroll, spokesman for Animals Asia’s Dr Dog programme, said:

“Link’s sponsorship enables our programme to reach people and places with limited or no government funding, and in areas where there is a higher population of elderly people. We are also happy to have Link Volunteers’ active participation in our visits.

“The premise of Dr Dog is very simple – we believe using animals as therapy can vastly improve the mental and physical well being of those in need. Volunteers take registered therapy dogs who have undergone a behavioural assessment exam, to meet elderly people – from one-to-one meetings, through small group sessions right up to large group gatherings.

“The presence of the dog stimulates the patient to get up, pat the dog and then walk with him or her at ease. Activities such as these help with motor function, tactile responses and social inclusion, in a relaxed and friendly setting. We’ve all had that experience when we’re walking down a street and we pass someone with a dog – for many it’s an instinctive reaction to crouch down to say hello, and it’s exactly that reaction we aim to inspire in people and patients through these visits, as well as encouraging people to understand that companion animals can have a positive impact upon our health and wellbeing.”

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