Government considers stricter penalties for abandonment

Police and Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department officers continue to catch unattended dogs in Yuen Long, days after a suspected fatal dog attack in the area.

The government is looking into increasing penalties for dog abandonment. An animal protection organization suggests imprisonment for offenders and calls for a long-term animal shelter.

Police and AFCD officers search for unattended dogs for days. They patrol around Pok Wai South Road and Kam Pok Road, near the site of a suspected fatal dog attack.

It's believed that some of these unattended dogs are warehouse dogs, while others are abandoned pets.

Under the Rabies Ordinance, abandoning an animal without a reasonable excuse carries a maximum fine of 10,000 dollars or six months in prison. The penalty has remained unchanged for two decades.

Speaking on a radio programme, Secretary for Environment and Ecology Tse Chin-wan says abandonment is the root of the stray dog problem, so there is a need to increase owners' responsibilities and raise penalties to strengthen the deterrent effect.

Linda, founder of The Hong Kong Save a Life Association, says they receive requests to take in abandoned animals every day.

She urges authorities to impose imprisonment for irresponsible owners, noting that financial penalties have failed to deter them from leaving aggressive dogs on the streets.

Meanwhile, lawmaker Peter Douglas Koon suggests introducing a licencing system for dogs kept at car parks and warehouses. He says warehouse operators often treat dogs merely as working animals and abandon them when businesses close.

A special licence can ensure owners treat the dogs well and hold them accountable upon business closure.

Both the lawmaker and the activist agree the government should not euthanize all stray dogs and suggest setting up a central animal shelter.