Animals Asia Foundation, a Hong Kong-based charity, announced Tuesday that it will soon launch a series of education programs to end cruelty to animals and restore respect for life.

In cooperation with local departments including the Hong Kong Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department and the Hong Kong Police, the foundation will distribute education materials including leaflets, posters, cards and video disks to help people become responsible pet owners and stop consuming dogs and cats.

"In view of recent animal-abusing incidents, we feel it very much an urgency to initiate education programs to curb such activities," said Jill Robinson, founder and CEO of the foundation.

In two separate cases, two young men in Hong Kong were arrested over the past few months for cruelty to animals. A 19-year-old man allegedly broke four cats' legs with bare hands and dumped them in the street, and a 26-year-old beat his flatmate's dog to death simply because he was annoyed by its barking.

Robinson said that, in addition to material distribution, the foundation will continue to organize more "Professor Paws Educational Fun Day" activities, from which children can learn how to care for animals while improving their English by interacting with certified Dr. Dogs and asking questions and making presentation in English.

The "Professor Paws" program has so far served over 1,300 students in 14 schools all over Hong Kong, and drawn an overwhelmingly positive feedback, she said.

(Xinhua News Agency March 15, 2006)