Replies to LegCo questions
LCQ18: Abandoned animals
Following is a question by the Hon Mrs Regina Ip and a written reply by the
Secretary for Food and Health, Dr York Chow, in the Legislative Council today
(February 23):
Question:
Some members of the public have pointed out that the problem of abandoned pets
in Hong Kong is serious, which not only involves inhumane treatment of animals,
but also causes deterioration in environmental hygiene and nuisance to members
of the public. They have further pointed out that some animal adoption
organisations have ceased to take in abandoned pets and stray animals owing to
insufficient facilities and resources, and also many people choose to abandon
their pets on outlying islands (e.g. Lamma Island, etc.). In this connection,
will the Government inform this Council:
(a) what measures had been adopted by the authorities in the past three years to
ensure that animal adoption organisations had sufficient capacity to take in
abandoned pets, and whether it had studied jointly with such organisations how
to deal with the problem of abandoned pets;
(b) whether the situation of pets being abandoned on outlying islands was more
serious than that in the other districts in the past three years and whether
such situation was of concern to the Government; if so, of the measures to
address this problem; and
(c) given that some members of the public have pointed out that whenever a
housing estate announces prohibition against the keeping of pets by tenants, a
large number of pets will be abandoned by its tenants, whether the Government
will follow up such situation and offer assistance to the tenants concerned?
Reply:
President,
We believe the most effective way to address the problem of abandoned animals is
to raise public awareness of responsible pet ownership. Pet owners should ponder
over potential adoption of pets thoroughly and should take proper care of them
afterwards. They should not allow their pets to cause nuisance to other people,
let alone abandon them lightly. To this end, the Agriculture, Fisheries and
Conservation Department (AFCD) has been stepping up promotion and education at
various levels and through different channels, including broadcasting
Announcements of Public Interest on television and radio as well as putting up
posters on public transport to promote care for animals. In addition, the AFCD
produces promotional leaflets, posters and souvenirs for free distribution to
the public, and also organises other promotional activities to spread the
message.
Our reply to the three parts of the question is as follows:
(a) The AFCD has been working in collaboration with more than ten major animal
welfare organisations (AWOs), including the Society for the Prevention of
Cruelty to Animals and the Society for Abandoned Animals, etc., in handling
stray animals caught or pets given up by members of the public and making
re-homing arrangements for them. Apart from AWOs, the four Animal Management
Centres of the AFCD also receive pets given up by members of the public.
In an effort to help AWOs further publicise their animal re-homing scheme, the
AFCD has implemented new measures, including publicity for participating AWOs
(partner organisations) through the AFCD's website, pamphlets, leaflets or joint
promotional activities; the introduction of new re-homing procedures including,
among others, pro-active liaison with partner organisations and provision of
animal photos when there are animals suitable for adoption; as well as provision
of outsourced free neutering service for animals (mainly cats and dogs) adopted
through partner organisations.
(b) While AFCD does not have the statistics relating to all abandoned or stray
animals, there is a decline in the number of stray dogs caught by the AFCD in
the Islands District in the past three years (as shown in the table below).
There is no indication that the problem of abandoned animals in the Islands
District is more serious than that in other districts.
Number of
stray dogs caught
in the
Islands District
2008 291
2009 285
2010 228
(c) Private housing estates formulate their own arrangements about pet-keeping
by residents. We call on the estate management, before tightening the
pet-keeping arrangements, to allow for adequate time and provide pet owners with
necessary assistance, including advising them to consider handing over their
pets to the AFCD or other AWOs if they have difficulties in re-homing their
pets. Estate management companies may contact the AFCD, which will provide
appropriate assistance. Depending on the health conditions and temperament of
the animals, the AFCD and relevant AWOs will try to arrange re-homing for them.
The AFCD will also step up publicity and education for estate management
companies on handling pet-keeping issues.
Ends/Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Issued at HKT 14:52
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