It's no surprise dogs and cats are the most popular pets in Hong Kong. But which animal takes third spot? According to a survey conducted by the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) Hong Kong, hamsters and terrapins are tied as the third most popular pet in the city.
Based on a random sample of 537 respondents to reveal attitudes towards buying a pet, adoption and pet preferences, 37 per cent of people would choose a dog, 23 per cent a cat and 11 per cent a hamster or a terrapin.
According to Jane Gray, the chief veterinary surgeon and deputy director of veterinary services at the SPCA, two main breeds of hamsters are popular in the city. 'Russian dwarf hamsters are the very small ones, while the Syrian hamsters, also called golden hamsters, are the bigger, chunkier hamsters,' she says. 'On the whole, there are more Russian dwarf hamsters.'
Gray says the SPCA's adoption centres in Hong Kong, Kowloon, Sai Kung and Mong Kok generally house 20 to 30 hamsters that are available for rehoming.
HANDLE WITH CARE
Gray advises parents thinking of getting a hamster as a family pet not to do so for young children. 'Hamsters are timid and easily scared,' she says. 'They need to be treated gently. An eight- to 10-year-old can be taught to handle them gently, but they are not for toddlers.'