The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department and police have captured eight unattended dogs in Yuen Long after a 27-year-old woman was found dead following a suspected dog attack on September 20. Authorities are also examining about 20 dogs kept at warehouses for possible traces of the woman’s DNA.

Police CCTV reportedly showed the woman being chased by three dogs on a road in Yuen Long. A forensic assessment initially said it was highly likely that bites to her neck, possibly involving the trachea, caused her death. The investigation continues, with testing intended to help establish whether any of the dogs were linked to the case.

The eight captured dogs were taken to an animal-management centre for detention and observation after a five-day operation. Three were microchipped but had expired licences, and the department prosecuted one registered keeper.

At a September 29 Yuen Long District Council meeting, the department said it would carry out risk assessments and continue patrols in places with serious unattended-dog problems. It will also review the Dangerous Dogs Regulation, with discussion in the Legislative Council planned by the end of 2026 and an aim to complete amendments in 2027.

Councillors pointed to car parks, warehouses and brownfield sites where dogs may be left unattended, and warned that land resumption linked to planned development in northern Hong Kong could lead to more abandoned animals. Proposals included tighter controls on high-risk dogs, stronger management of strays and better accommodation for animals. One district councillor argued that repeated minor breaches and weak deterrence could allow risks to build up.

Home for Homeless Dog said some volunteers register as keepers of stray dogs so they can arrange sterilisation, and urged authorities to distinguish them from irresponsible owners. Abandoning an animal currently carries a maximum fine of HK$10,000 and six months’ imprisonment; there were no prosecutions in the previous six years. Legislative Council member Chong Ho-fung proposed tougher penalties and using vacant government-reclaimed land for temporary shelters, while the organisation called for larger public facilities for housing animals.

For anyone confronted by an attacking dog, the department’s chief veterinary officer advised staying calm, not turning and running immediately, moving backwards slowly, and using a backpack or umbrella as a barrier. She also advised taking a detour when a dog can be seen from a distance.