Mars, Sun & Ball — Injured, But No Report Filed. Can Dialogue Help?

Part 1: Injury and Response

In the winter of 2025, a rescuer named Kammy found three chained dogs — Mars, Sun, and a puppy, Ball — living in filthy conditions at a parking lot in Hong Kong's North District. The space was full of garbage, feces, and dirty food bowls. Though unhealthy, the dogs seemed stable — until one day Mars was found with a swollen face, oozing pus, and no appetite.

Kammy contacted the owner, who explained that Mars had fought with Sun while off-leash. He shared a photo and said he had treated the wounds with antiseptic spray and fly repellent.

Concerned, volunteers from Unchain Dog HK contacted District Councillor Lau Chun-hoi and animal rescuer Kent from Paws Guardian Rescue Shelter to provide urgent care. Mars' wounds were already infested with fly larvae. Volunteers cleaned the wound, applied medicine, and began a 14-day treatment plan. Councillor Lau committed to administering medicine and fly repellent each night.

To Report or Not?

Legally, the case didn't meet the threshold for abuse — the owner provided food, water, and basic wound care. Reporting could backfire by cutting off access to the dogs. The group chose instead to open communication with the owner — seeking permission to help treat Mars and suggesting rehoming Ball.

The owner explained he had used pliers to remove fly larvae from Mars' wound and preferred to "wait and see" before seeing a vet. He emphasised he was actively cleaning the wound.

Part 2: Rehoming Ball

A team member who is also a professional dog trainer spoke with the owner about rehoming the puppy:

'If Ball gets a home and training, he could become a completely different dog. Give him a chance.'

The trainer also advised simple adjustments — like placing food and water bowls behind the dog to prevent spills from overexcitement.

The owner thought it over and agreed: 'Helping him find a home sounds good.' He shared that Ball and the others used to live at home, but as they grew larger, he relocated them to the parking lot.

While the team wanted to take Ball right away, they gave the owner a short buffer to process the decision. On Day 3, they asked again—and he agreed. Kammy is now fostering Ball and helping him look for a forever home.

Part 3: Cleaning & Shelter

The parking lot remained filthy and Mars still needed recovery time. Volunteers asked the owner if they could help clean. He agreed, casually saying "Just a simple sweep is fine".

But the team went all-in: equipped with gloves, brooms, and heavy-duty garbage bags, they spent four hours removing over 10 large, heavy bags of waste. Kammy scrubbed the food and water bowls clean. At last, the area looked liveable.

Then came a cold snap. Sun was seen trembling in the rain. Volunteers urged the owner to provide shelter. Soon after, Councillor Lau visited and was pleased to see a new pallet-built doghouse for Sun. He seemed to love it — entering and exiting frequently. The team messaged the owner to thank and encourage him.

Conclusion: Can Communication Work?

Hong Kong's current laws make it difficult to act unless neglect is extreme. But this case shows that patient, respectful dialogue can sometimes achieve more than reporting alone. By working with the owner instead of against him, the team helped one dog recover, rehomed another, improved living conditions, and even inspired the owner to build shelter.

It's a reminder that everyone can be a volunteer —and sometimes, all it takes is a conversation to start making a difference.