The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD), together with police, has been conducting dog-catching operations after a woman was suspected to have been bitten to death by a stray dog on Pok Wai South Road in Yuen Long. As of the evening of Sept. 23, eight unowned dogs had been captured.
Secretary for Environment and Ecology Tse Chin-wan said in a radio interview today (Sept. 24) that dog management is an important social issue, especially as the world moves toward harmony between people and pets. He said the prerequisite for achieving that goal is ensuring public safety. He believed the incident was highly likely caused by stray dogs and said the government attaches great importance to the matter.
Tse said the government will work on several fronts, including strengthening education and raising penalties. For example, he noted that abandonment is the root cause of stray dogs and is the responsibility of dog owners. He stressed that keeping a dog is a solemn decision and a lifelong commitment. The government will review legislation to improve the management of dangerous dogs while increasing penalties for dog owners, he said.
Tse also noted that, based on data, Hong Kong's stray dog situation has improved significantly compared with the past 20 years. In the early 2000s, about 11,000 stray dogs were still caught each year, while the current average is about 400 a year. The AFCD has also improved its workflow: after catching stray dogs, unclaimed dogs are handed over to animal welfare organisations for neutering and care until they are adopted. Tse said he believes these measures can gradually reduce the impact of the stray dog problem.
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