The Animal Welfare Concern Alliance says five animal-welfare groups took in 569 dogs and cats from January to June 2026: 318 dogs and 251 cats. The total covers those five groups’ cases, not all animal rescue activity in Hong Kong.
More than 80% of the animals came from the New Territories. In the alliance’s dataset, 37% were puppies or kittens, 41% had apparent health problems and 86% had not been sterilised when taken in. A further 32% were reported to have a keeper.
Of 465 cases with a known New Territories source, 51% came from within the Northern Metropolis area, including 135 dogs and 101 cats. The alliance said those cases could not be attributed to development in the area and that the figures might not reflect Hong Kong as a whole.
Animal-welfare volunteers told HK01 that dog abandonment had risen after recent biting incidents. A representative of one participating shelter said it had taken in 64 dogs in the preceding two months, one-third of its annual total.
The alliance wants the government to provide temporary shelter space and, longer term, land for an integrated stray-animal centre. It also proposes restarting a trap-neuter-and-place programme and setting a two-year target to reduce the humane-destruction rate to 20% or below. Its proposed specialist welfare facilities would provide veterinary treatment for ill dogs and behavioural rehabilitation for dogs that fail temperament tests.
The proposals come amid volunteer concern about the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department’s reported approach to unattended dogs. The department said it would capture them, check for microchips and valid licences, and use those details to contact keepers. Volunteers fear that recording rescuers’ details could expose them to fines or imprisonment and deter people from helping with sterilisation. A Paws Guardian Rescue Shelter representative said welfare groups supported stronger action against owners who break the law, but warned that unclaimed dogs without microchips could face humane destruction after capture.
For temporary accommodation, a representative of one participating group said a covered space with water and electricity would be enough, with volunteers prepared to build the rest themselves.