The dogs and cats of Hong Kong animal rescue charity Kirsten’s Zoo need a helping paw this holiday season
The charity is struggling to pay for food, shelter, supplies and vet costs for its animals
These cute doggies need your help.Kirsten’s Zoo, a charity in Hong Kong, is seeking help and donations during Christmas. They are in need of funds and items such as flea and tick repellent, dewormers, cat litter, food, and poop bags.
Speaking to Young Post, the founder of the animal charity, Kirsten Mitchell, said this has been a “difficult” year because she was involved in a car accident in March, in Malaysia, and took a long time to recover.
“I just got back to work. I’ve gone through physiotherapy and I’m still recovering,” she said.
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“We’re having some financial difficulties, and were unfortunately unable to do a fundraiser this year.”
Mitchell said the charity is really struggling to pay for things such as food for the animals, shelter and vet costs, which totals about HK$30,000 and HK$50,000 per month.
“If you don’t have money, [it’s a really big problem]. I have no savings left and my insurance paid out the absolute minimum amount [for the car crash in Malaysia],” she said.
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The three big upcoming holiday seasons – Christmas, New Year and summer – are worry times for the charity, she added. “During Christmas our adoption rates drop by 80 to 90 per cent. We have to limit the dogs and cats we take in because there are no foster families.”
She encourages students to help in any way they can. “[Raise funds], volunteer, visit our website, choose a charity, and see how you can help,” she said.
“Students have incredible ideas. An international school here designed T-shirts and sold them to raise money completely on their own,” she said.
For more details or to help, visit www.kirstenszoo.com
Edited by Nicole Moraleda