Missed the AFCD Dog Adoption Carnival? Use this prep list for next year

The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) runs a public Dog Adoption Carnival under the banner Let’s Go! The Pet Owners’ Journey. It is one of the few large dog days in Hong Kong that the government licensing body runs itself, and the 2026 edition is a good way to see what a public-sector dog event looks like here.

The 2026 carnival ran from 17 to 18 January 2026, 11:00am to 6:00pm at Cyberport Arcade, with free admission. AFCD’s post-event figures put attendance at 4,800 across both days. The next date is not yet on the pets.gov.hk homepage, so treat this as a prep guide for the next time AFCD announces it.

What happens on the day

The carnival is more than a dog pen. From the official AFCD announcement and the pets.gov.hk carnival page, visitors can:

• Meet dogs available for adoption through partner animal welfare groups
• Apply or renew a dog licence on the spot
• Drop in at a vet consultation booth
• Use the dog playground, game booths, and education displays
• Sit in on workshops and NGO sharing sessions

The 2026 partner NGOs included Cheung Chau Animal Care, the Hong Kong Saving Cat and Dog Association, the LAP, Paws United, the Society for Abandoned Animals, the SPCA, and Team for Animals in Lantau South, among others.

Bringing your own dog: four non-negotiables

AFCD is clear that any dog brought by the public must have:

1. A valid dog licence (unless you are licensing on the spot)
2. A rabies vaccination
3. A microchip
4. Proper control on lead or in a carrier

This is stricter than a casual pet market. Bring your e-licence screenshot and do not turn up with an unlicensed dog expecting to be waved through.

If you are thinking about adopting, do the quiet work first

A carnival is loud, crowded, and full of faces that want to go home. Make the hard decisions before you step into the event.

• Read up on each partner NGO before the weekend. Look at their websites, social feeds, and recent adoption stories.
• Ask each booth about home checks, deposits, and post-adoption support. The answers tell you a lot about long-term support.
• Bring all adult household members if you can.
• Budget for the first-week kit: a crate, a lead, a food transition, and a first vet visit.
• If you only want a licence or a chat, say so early. Staff time is limited.

Pairing a meal with the trip

The 2026 carnival used Cyberport mall and arcade space, with the waterfront park nearby. If you finish early, two natural pairings:

• Walk the lawns at Cyberport Waterfront Park. Check the current dog rules on the park page before you go.
• Plan a calmer meal afterward. The Pause Cafe in Mui Wo works as a ferry side-trip, or pick something from the August community dining round-up.

Where the next date will appear

Watch these three places:

• The pets.gov.hk highlights page
• The www.petswithlove.com.hk thematic site (2026 was themed around carnival branding)
• AFCD press releases on info.gov.hk

If 2027 dates drop, we will publish a fresh preview. Until then, the most useful thing you can do is keep your dog licence current. That alone removes the biggest barrier to joining the next government dog day.