A precious resource for the next generation of vets
Our animals are an integral part of our lives – their unconditional love is invaluable and saying goodbye is never easy. You can honour their life by donating your pet’s body to support veterinary education. Our Little Angel Educational Memorial Programme provides an opportunity to find meaning after the loss of your pet. Previous donors have expressed satisfaction in supporting the next generation of veterinarians and the animals they will go onto look after. Only you can decide if our programme is the best option for you and your beloved pet. We understand what a difficult decision it is, and we are grateful for your forethought.
The Programme
Dear Pet Owners,
We understand how deeply you cherish your pets and the profound bond you share with them. In their passing, you have an opportunity to create a lasting legacy by donating your pet’s body to the CityU Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences. This generous act will provide an invaluable teaching resource for the next generation of veterinarians.
By contributing to our program, your beloved pet will play a crucial role in veterinary education, particularly in the fields of pathology and anatomy, as well as in research aimed at advancing animal health and welfare. Even in death, your pet can make a vital contribution to the training of skilled and compassionate veterinarians.
Our students and staff deeply appreciate the training opportunities your donation provides. We assure you that all animals in our care are treated with the utmost respect and dignity.
Thank you for considering this meaningful way to honour your pet’s memory and support the future of veterinary medicine.
Sincerely,
The Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences
Which Animals are Suitable?
We accept donations from certain mammal species, including dogs, cats, rabbits, and guinea pigs. Please discuss with your veterinarian to determine if your pet is suitable for donation.
Important Considerations:
- We partner with Goodbye Dear for professional handling and health safety. Please understand that this company cannot be modified.
- If you prefer a specific cremation service or have clinic/hospital protocols to follow, this program will not be suitable.
- We cannot accept pets with suspected/confirmed zoonotic diseases, those that have received chemotherapy or radiotherapy within the past month, or pets involved in legal cases (e.g., poisoning or welfare issues).
Thank you for your understanding and support.
Points to Note
Options for Your Pet's Ashes
- Return of Ashes: You can choose to have your pet’s ashes returned to you at no cost by selecting this option on the consent form. The designated animal cremation company (Goodbye Dear) will contact you when the ashes are ready for pickup.
- Farewell Ceremony*: If you wish to have a farewell ceremony for your pet (at your expense) before it is sent to our college for teaching, select this option on the consent form. The designated animal cremation company (Goodbye Dear) will contact you to arrange the ceremony.
- No Farewell Ceremony: If you do not choose a farewell ceremony, please say goodbye to your pet before the designated animal cremation company (Goodbye Dear) picks up the body. You will not be able to organize a farewell ceremony for your pet after the teaching activity.
*Please note that CityU Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences (JCC) is not responsible for the farewell ceremony or any associated arrangements. Your pet’s body will be transferred to our college for teaching after the ceremony.
How do I participate?
If you wish to enroll your pet after reading the information on this website, please talk to your vet and fill in the donation consent form (donor’s part)*.
Your vet will also provide a brief medical history of your pet in this form (vet’s part). A complete medical history will provide the greatest educational benefit to our students.
*Please be assured that students will not see any of your personal identifying information.
What happens next?
Upon receiving the completed consent form from your veterinarian, our pathologists will review the information and confirm whether your pet's body can be accepted for donation. We will notify you by phone regarding the acceptance or rejection of the case. If accepted, the designated animal cremation company (Goodbye Dear) will contact either the clinic or you (if your pet’s body is at home) to arrange collection*.
You can expect to receive your pet’s ashes within four months of the acceptance of the body donation. A brief report of findings from the teaching post-mortem examination will be provided to your veterinarian at no cost within a few days after the examination. You can contact your vet if you would like to know more about the findings.
After the teaching post-mortem is complete, your pet’s remains will be cremated by the designated animal cremation company (Goodbye Dear). If you have chosen to have the ashes returned, the company will contact you when they are ready for pickup.
*Please note the JCC team will not monitor the programme after 5pm on weekdays, nor during public holidays or weekends. If a pet passed away at clinic/home during non-working hours, clinic staff/pet owner can contact the “Goodbye Dear” cremation company directly at 2980-3332, stating that the pet is for donation to “Little Angel Memorial Programme”, the cremation company will then assist with body collection on the same day.
Summary of Workflow
Upon the passing of an eligible pet (Please refer ‘Which animals are suitable' on the website), and once you have decided to participate in the programme (either at the veterinary clinic or at home), the workflow is as follows:
Owner fills out the online Donation Consent Form: Donation Consent Form | Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences (cityu.edu.hk)
When the application is received, the JCC administration team will contact the listed attending veterinarian via email within 1 working day* to complete another online form to include additional clinical information of the pet for assessment.
Upon receipt of the completed form, the case will be assessed by the JCC Pathologists within 1 working day*.
Acceptance of admission into the program.
- Please note that not all pets will be accepted into the program; veterinary student training focusses on cats, dogs and small pet mammals
- Please refer to ‘Which animals are suitable’ on the website for more details as to which animals are acceptable;
- Pets not acceptable include those with suspected/confirmed zoonotic disease, chemotherapy or radiotherapy treated pets within one month of the last treatment; pets not involved in legal (poisoning or welfare) cases.
- If the case is rejected, the JCC administrative team will contact the owner and attending vet via phone call/email.
When the case is accepted, JCC administration team will contact the owner on the phone on the same day* to re-confirm their selected options on farewell ceremony^ and ash return, and arrange body collection by the “Goodbye Dear” cremation company ideally on the same day from the clinics/home (Refer ‘What happens next’ on the website).
^IMPORTANT: Owners will NOT be able to farewell their pet after the body has been transferred to our college for teaching.
Following body collection, “Goodbye Dear” will arrange farewell ceremony if the owner wishes to purchase that option.
JCC administration team will record the received case on two online files shared with JCC Pathologists and “Goodbye Dear” separately as references to make teaching and logistics arrangements.
A post mortem report will be sent to the listed attending veterinarian within 4 months of acceptance of body donation to the programme. Veterinarian is to contact the owner with the report.
“Goodbye Dear” cremation company will contact the owner regarding delivery of pet ashes, if it is opted.
*Please note: JCC administration team will not monitor the programme after 5pm on weekdays, and during public holidays or weekends. If the pet passed away at clinic/home during non-working hours, the clinic staff/pet owner can call “Goodbye Dear” directly at 2980-3332, indicating that the pet is for donation to “Little Angel Programme”, then “Goodbye Dear” will help to collect the body on the same day.
Contact Us
Should you have any questions, please contact us at:
Tel: (852) 3442 5605 / 3442 7255
Email: little.angel@cityu.edu.hk
Office hours: Mon to Fri (except public holidays), 9:00 am – 5:00 pm*
*If a pet passed away at clinic/home during non-working hours, clinic staff/pet owner can contact the “Goodbye Dear” cremation company directly at 2980-3332, stating that the pet is for donation to “Little Angel Memorial Programme”, the cremation company will then assist with body collection on the same day.
