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Many people's livelihoods have been greatly affected by the pandemic, and guide dog users are no exception. Many of them work in the massage industry or work in part-time jobs. As many businesses have been forced to close lately, their income has dropped greatly. Food expenses for guide dogs have become an extra burden. To alleviate their situation, CARE@hkjc participated in the "Guide Dogs Let’s Eat!" service on March 31 to distribute dog food to the guide dog users. Volunteers also took this opportunity to chat with and care for them.

"Guide Dogs Let’s Eat!" is a service under the "Guide Dog Food Expenses Relief Programme". The programme is sponsored by the Club with an aim to provide emergency relief to guide dog users affected by the pandemic. On the event day, 12 volunteers gathered early at the Guide Dogs Association Jockey Club Education and Training Centre and worked together to move the dog food and disinfection supplies onto the van. They then delivered the supplies to guide dog users in different districts in groups of two. In addition to delivery, they spent time talking to the guide dog users and got to know more about their daily lives. The volunteers worked non-stop and successfully distributed the goods to nearly 40 blind dog users in a half day.

Some volunteers also have pets themselves and know how big of a cost animal food can be. They signed up for the event as they empathised with the guide dog users’ situation. Even though the process of delivering dog food was certainly physically demanding, all volunteers said it was very worthwhile as it allowed them to interact with the group who had little exposure to the public while connecting with furry friends at the same time.