Hong Kong agriculture department rounds up unaccompanied dogs on Cheung Chau
Hong Kong's Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department conducted an operation on Cheung Chau to capture unaccompanied dogs, citing public safety and rabies prevention. Captured dogs without owners will be transferred to welfare groups for neutering and adoption after health checks.
The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) of Hong Kong launched an operation on Cheung Chau on 10 November to capture unaccompanied dogs, the government announced. The department said it would check lost-and-found records to identify owners, and dogs without owners would, after health and temperament checks, be transferred to partner animal-welfare organisations for neutering and adoption.
An AFCD spokesman said that in a high-density urban environment, unowned and unrestrained dogs could pose a risk to public safety. Dogs allowed to roam in public areas may injure people or other animals, and those not vaccinated against rabies could threaten public health and animal health. To avoid public-safety risks, the AFCD does not release unowned dogs directly back into the community.
The department said it adopts a risk-based strategy, focusing on high-risk locations to capture unaccompanied dogs, and conducts special enforcement operations when necessary to ensure owners fulfil their responsibilities. Under the Rabies Ordinance (Chapter 421) and the Rabies Regulation (Chapter 421A), all dogs over five months old must be microchipped, vaccinated against rabies and licensed. Dogs must be revaccinated and their licences renewed every three years or less.
Dogs in public places must be leashed or otherwise properly controlled. Owners must not leave dogs unattended in public or abandon them. Offenders face a maximum fine of HK$10,000 per offence, and abandonment of a dog carries a potential six-month jail term.
The AFCD advised the public to stay calm, keep their distance from unaccompanied dogs in public places, and call 1823 to report sightings. In emergencies, such as aggressive behaviour or immediate danger, the public should call the police immediately.