Today (March 1) is the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals' (SPCA) annual "Dogathon." For the event, the MTR historically opened parts of its heavy-rail network to pet dogs for the first time.
Registered owners holding an "1-Day MTR Woof Pass" could ride the MTR with their dogs unlimited times today. The event had 1,200 spots, which were fully booked in advance, so nearly 1,000 owners are expected to travel with their dogs today. KMB also provided dedicated pet bus services.
MTR Deputy Director (Operations & Local Rail) Cheris Lee said the company took the event seriously, deploying extra staff at busy stations to assist and posting notices and announcements to inform passengers of arrangements, asking dog owners and other passengers to be considerate to ensure a comfortable and safe journey. She said operations have been generally smooth so far and arrangements will be reviewed afterward.
The event kicked off this morning at Hong Kong Disneyland. Reporter from DotDotNews saw the Disneyland Resort shuttle bus park transformed into the event venue, crowded with "fur babies." Many owners arrived early to take part in the 5 km charity walk and pet carnival.
SPCA president Gigi Fu also attended with a dog. In her opening remarks she said the event involved more than 1,400 dogs and nearly 2,500 participants, and she thanked KMB and the MTR for their support.
Fu also expressed support for the government's upcoming pet-in-restaurants licensing scheme, saying she hopes Hong Kong will become a more pet-inclusive city where animals can share everyday life with people.
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