'World first' vet care model launched in HK (hktdc.com)


	Dr Pauline Taylor with Spud

A veterinary concept set to revolutionise pet care throughout Asia has been launched in Hong Kong.

Branded as Pets Central, the deal involves Pets Central Asia Inc. and ADP Pentagon Pets Ltd as joint venture partners to create Hong Kong's largest network of veterinary hospitals and clinics, and the largest chain of pet stores.

And Hong Kong is just the starting point for this far-sighted company, which plans to launch in the Chinese mainland by autumn 2007, and the Philippines, Thailand, Japan and Taiwan in 2008.

Leading veterinarian Dr Pauline Taylor, Group Managing Director of Pets Central, described the arrangement as "unprecedented", as it required Hong Kong's major pet shop operators to stop selling dogs and cats and offer abandoned animals for adoption in their place. "I'm thrilled to be part of this groundbreaking joint venture to reduce the number of pets being imported for sale in pet shops, when so many abandoned animals are in need of a home."

One stop shop

Pets Central will provide a fully integrated professional care "one stop shop" for veterinary, retail and pet grooming needs. It will also include a Pet Parents Club where owners can meet socially in pet-friendly cafes and learn the latest in pet care education.

The first Pets Central clinic opened in Sai Kung in September, to be followed by North Point Pets Central in October. The first 24/7 Pets Central hospital will open in Mongkok in November, followed by a Causeway Bay 24/7 Pets Central hospital in March. New clinics will open regularly throughout Hong Kong, either as company owned clinics, joint ventures or franchises.

Dr Taylor said the business idea stemmed from a need to address the problem of abandoned animals in Asia, and also to provide world-class pet care services to an increasing number of pet owners. Hong Kong was the ideal launchpad for the Pets Central brand, she said.

"Hong Kong is the crossroads of the 21st century silk road ─ China and Asia, America and the West, Muslim Central Asia and The Middle East and Europe. No better legal, financial, transportation or communications infrastructure exists anywhere in the world. It is the bridge to China where pets are the new 'little emperors'."

No better place


	Dr David Coyle with Bob

Dr Taylor said there was "no better place" to set up a world first business model that integrates the best of Chinese and Western veterinary medicine, retail and education components.

Setting up the business was "a sheer delight," she added. "There was nothing I couldn't find an answer to or get done within 24 hours at the most." The business community was so willing to help and welcomed the concept with open arms."

Dr David Coyle, Group Director of Veterinary Services, said world-class vets with specialised skills would be recruited to staff the Pets Central clinics and hospitals.

"I'm happy to be putting together such a great team of caring vets from all over the world, and being able to give them the best equipment and facilities to work with. Our goal is to offer the highest standard of veterinary care across the board, so we're bringing in vets to work in specific areas such as cancer treatment, behavioural problems, emergency medicine, a bloodbank and many others, complementary to my own interests in internal medicine and dermatology. Most exciting of all for me is the opportunity for us to revolutionise pet care throughout Asia."

Right decision

Joint venture partner Alex Yip, Managing Director of ADP which runs Hong Kong's largest chain of pet stores, said the agreement to stop selling pets was not an easy decision, "but it was the right one". "We are very happy with the agreement we reached with Pets Central as it benefits all pet owners and abandoned animals. My brothers and I got into this business because we love pets, and now we can do more for them with the quality vets Dr Taylor has brought together."

ADP will have finished phasing out the sale of dogs and cats in its Q-Pets and Red Carrot stores by December 2007. Hong Kong animal welfare organisations are being invited to bring in healthy abandoned animals for adoption in their place.