Replies to LegCo questions
LCQ13: Handling of abandoned pets
Following is a question by the Hon Lau Kong-wah and a written reply by the Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food, Dr Yeoh Eng-kiong, in the Legislative Council today (December 17):
Question :
Will the Government inform this Council:
(a) how it treats abandoned pets (such as dogs and cats); whether it knows the assistance offered by the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Hong Kong) in this respect and whether the Society will provide shelter for abandoned pets; if it will, of the details;
(b) of the number of pets put down because they have been abandoned or no adopters have been found for them in each of the past three years and the expenses involved, broken down by animal species; and
(c) of the measures the authorities have to enhance public education on being kind to animals and to promote such a message to the community?
Reply :
Madam President,
(a) It is the established practice of the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) to provide suitable arrangements for the humane disposal of abandoned, stray, lost or feral animals. Such animals can either be selected for adoption through animal welfare organisations, or euthanased if no suitable homes can be found. If the abandoned animal is equipped with microchip identification (a statutory requirement for dogs over five months old), AFCD will try to trace the owner with a view to reuniting the dog with the owner as far as possible. Animals without identification will be held for four days to see if they are reclaimed by their owners. If such animals remain unclaimed after the four-day period, or if their owners cannot be traced, suitable arrangements will be made for adoption by the public through animal welfare groups. There are seven animal welfare organisations currently working together with AFCD to rehome abandoned pet animals. Animals which are found not suitable for adoption or unable to be adopted because of a lack of interest will be euthanased. The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Hong Kong) (SPCA) is one of the organisations assisting AFCD to rehome the pet animals.
(b) The number of pet animals euthanased by AFCD because no suitable homes can be found for them in the last three years and the expenses involved are shown in the table.
(c) AFCD promotes the message of responsible pet ownership and animal welfare among the general public through the following means:
* Direct interaction and education efforts in villages and communities. AFCD officers carry out pre-scheduled dog licensing programmes in villages and communities, and combine these programmes with education programmes on responsible pet ownership. AFCD has visited over 400 villages since April 2002.
* AFCD also works with the SPCA on similar programmes in villages and housing estates, with follow-up or concurrent activities of the Sir Robert HoTung SPCA Spay/Neuter vehicle to carry out low-cost spay/neuter operations.
* Mobile exhibitions.
* Talks to various groups on subjects like responsible pet ownership, health care for pets, how to avoid animal bites, and laws relating to keeping pets.
* Leaflets and posters.
* Subvention to SPCA for organising education programmes.
Ends/Wednesday, December 17, 2003
NNNN
Year | Dogs | Cats | Other Pets | Costs |
2001 | 11,394 | 2,693 | 88 | $190,000 |
2002 | 11,507 | 3,584 | 260 | $200,000 |
2003 (Jan - Nov) | 10,878 | 5,041 | 1,340 | $220,000 |