The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department stepped up dog inspections and enforcement in Yuen Long, West Kowloon, Cyberport and Kai Tak on August 30, with three owners prosecuted for failing to keep their dogs on leashes in public places, according to Ming Pao. The report also said the department required dogs to be taken away and sterilised.
i-CABLE News reported that dogs taken away in recent days were examined by veterinarians and identified as pit bull terriers, leading to their classification as fighting dogs. The number of dogs involved has not been disclosed in the source reports.
Liu Chun-hoi, a member of the Animal Welfare Concern Alliance, said abruptly removing dogs could affect the emotional wellbeing of both owners and animals. The group also voiced concern that dogs’ behaviour could change during or after enforcement. These are the organisation’s concerns and have not been independently confirmed.
Liu proposed a transition period and consultation arrangements before enforcement. Under the proposal, owners of dogs suspected of being fighting breeds or mixed-breed local dogs could voluntarily approach the department for re-testing and registration, and receive guidance on sterilisation arrangements.
Ming Pao reported that the alliance received at least 50 per cent more abandonment-related enquiries in August than in the previous month. Liu said he had personally received about 16 such enquiries. The figures come from the group and do not establish an increase in actual abandonment or prove that any increase was caused by the enforcement action.
Legislative Council member Chan Pok-chi suggested adding front and side photographs of dogs when licences are renewed, creating a dog database and improving reporting channels. He said the information could help authorities identify and track dogs and analyse their circumstances.
Chan also proposed using dogs’ appearance, locations and dog-bite data with data analysis or artificial intelligence to support enforcement planning, while protecting privacy. He said smuggled dogs and illegal breeding could result in mismatches between a dog’s microchip records and its breed, and suggested regular drone inspections of breeding facilities in remote areas to trace sources of smuggling and illegal sales.
It remains unclear how many dogs have been taken away, what veterinary assessment procedures and legal grounds were used, and what arrangements have been made for the animals afterwards. It is also not known whether the department will adopt the proposed transition period, re-testing, database or reporting measures.