On 13 July 2026, the “Hong Kong Shue Yan University (HKSYU) Service Stars” Volunteer Team and the Department of Counselling and Psychology—working in collaboration with Social Career and the Hong Kong Saving Cat and Dog Association (HKSCDA)—organised a Kennel Cleaning Day. Around 50 volunteers, interns, and faculty members took part in the event, which sought to put the concept of “Pet Inclusivity” into practice through kennel cleaning and positive dog training.

Dr Joe Ngai, Assistant Professor in the Department of Counselling and Psychology, together with Mr Owen Mak from the Master of Social Sciences in Counselling Psychology, led volunteers to the “Small Paws Centre”, an animal shelter in Kam Tin. Participants first gained an understanding of the shelter’s operations before cleaning the kennels. They also conducted positive training sessions with the dogs to ease anxiety, rebuild trust in humans, and increase their chances of future adoption.

Mr Mak introduced volunteers to the history of animal welfare and presented the “One Welfare” concept—an approach emphasising the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental well-being. This guided participants to reflect on the purpose of their service and to recognise that “helping stray animals is ultimately helping ourselves.”

Dr Ngai highlighted the importance of connecting academic research with real-world practice, noting that participants learned about the dogs’ health and living conditions through direct interaction. Ms Cheung Wing-yu, Chief Operating Officer of Social Career, remarked that beyond routine cleaning, the event incorporated elements of positive psychology, offering a deeper level of engagement than typical volunteer services.

Novena Wong, a student member of the HKSYU Volunteer Team, shared that the positive training allowed her to interact closely with the dogs. She was delighted to discover that some were not afraid of strangers at all, and even took the initiative to approach and show affection.