luna

Staff Owner: Prof. Chii SHANG
Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Residence Master of UG Hall II

Luna is living on campus in UG Hall II!
 
Quiet and sweet-tempered, Luna will warmly observe and sniff you to see how you’re doing when she first gets to know you!
 
Originated from Japan, the Shiba Inu is bred for hunting – so you’d think Luna’s quiet and reserved when you first meet her, but once there’s something that catches her attention (like a ball or a treat), she’ll dash as fast as lightning to get it!
 
As much as she loves playing though, Luna’s an elegant lady at heart. When she sits on the ground to rest, she’ll cross her front paws in a dignified fashion. This lady does prefer her circles to be small, so she likes working with smaller groups of people. Remember to respect Luna’s boundaries for her personal space when she walks away from you!
 
Yvonne Shih (Mrs. Shang) has been an important part of the HKUST community, providing comfort and support to many. Her dedication and generosity have made a significant difference in the lives of students. We are grateful for her selfless service and will always remember her contributions to our community.
 
bruno

 

Staff Owner: Prof. Garvin Percy DIAS
Associate Professor of Business Education, ISOM
Residence Master of UG Hall III

Bruno is living on campus in UG Hall III!
 
Bruno’s a gentle giant who will ignite an energetic fire in your soul when you first meet him!
 
As a breed, German Shepherds are known to be the among the most loyal and protective dogs.
 
Bruno’s resilience is also something to behold. He wasn’t always so big; when Prof. Dias took him in, he had just been abandoned and he suffered. Some dogs can be traumatized and cease to trust humans, but Bruno still exudes so much positivity and befriends us.
 
You’d never have guessed he survived such an ordeal with the way he smiles during his favourite body rubs now. In fact, Bruno isn’t afraid of more than one person touching him at the same time, so feel free to give him full body rubs!
 
chowchai

 

Staff Owner: Ms Wendy TANG
Assistant Director (Alumni)
Residence Master of UG Hall VII

Chow Jai is living on campus in UG Hall VII!
 
Chow Jai is a shy but attentive gentleman with a charming smile that will instantly make you feel at ease.
 
Originating from Malta, a tiny island south of Sicily, the Maltese have been considered the aristocrat of the dog world for over 28 centuries. Known for their gentle, affectionate, intelligent, and responsive nature, Chow Jai is a perfect example of this beloved breed.
 
Despite his past experience of being abandoned, Chow Jai remains a mature gentleman who loves to make new friends. He's a little shy at first, but don't let that fool you - he's very lively and loves to approach different people with his bright smile. When he comes to you, he'll softly sniff your hand to gauge your friendliness, but he won't stay for too long as he doesn't want to scare you. It's important to treat him patiently so that he can understand your friendly signals and build a trusting relationship with you.
 
smoothie

 

Owner: Dr Grace AU
Former Director of Student Affairs
 
Smoothie, a calm and sociable young poodle mix, loves interacting with people of all ages and often makes them feel relaxed with a surge of joy.
 
Attracted by Smoothie’s handsome outlook with a white chest and white paws on an online post saying that this rescue dog was in need of a home, Dr Grace Au went to meet him at Catherine’s Puppies (a dog rescue shelter) in Sai Kung in January 2025. After playing with Smoothie for two hours in the shelter and witnessing how he enjoyed petting by strangers and remained resilient in a noisy and crowded environment, Grace decided to take him home on an adoption trial. Smoothie quickly settled in the new home with his four rescue siblings and became the fifth adopted dog in Grace’s family. The vet confirmed that Smoothie was only at most one year old in February 2025.
 
In August 2025, Smoothie successfully passed the assessment of the Comfort Paws Program at HKUST and started serving students in the Fall semester. Smoothie loves showing off his wonderful talents to students, especially when yummy treats are involved! He is very photogenic. Smoothie would stay at the photo spot and won't leave until you say a sweet thank you and give him some tasty shrimp as a reward. His soft charm can melt any heart, but a tiny note: before you pet Smoothie, please be gentle and give him a little time to get to know you!
Get to know about Therapy Dog

A dog trained to provide affection and comfort to people in hospitals, retirement homes, nursing homes, schools, people with learning difficulties, and stressful situations. Therapy dogs come in all sizes and breeds. The most important characteristic of a therapy dog is its temperament. A good therapy dog must be friendly, patient, confident, gentle, and at ease in all situations.

Alliance of Therapy Dogs - https://www.therapydogs.com/difference-therapy-dog-vs-service-dog

Unlike service dogs that are trained to perform tasks and to do work that eases their handlers’ disabilities, therapy dogs also receive training but have a completely different type of job. Therapy dogs provide psychological or physiological therapy to individuals other than their handlers, while service dogs provide therapy directly to their handlers.

Therapy dogs help people feel better by letting them pet and comb their coat, rub their belly and performing tricks. These simple interactions can make people feel happier and relaxed.