Government Defends Stray Dog Handling After Fatal Yuen Long Attack
HKFP · 1 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
Hong Kong authorities on Thursday defended their handling of stray dogs following a fatal mauling incident, pushing back against claims by animal rights activist Kent Luk that captured strays face imminent "convenience culling." The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) confirmed an officer was bitten during a five-day operation in Yuen Long that netted eight stray dogs, including three with expired microchips. The operation was launched after a 27-year-old woman died from severe lacerations in a suspected dog attack last week, the second fatal canine attack in the city in recent weeks.
Key Points
- AFCD and police conducted a five-day joint operation in Yuen Long, capturing eight stray dogs as of Thursday
- Three of the captured dogs carried microchips, but their registration licences had expired
- A 27-year-old woman died last week from lacerations to her head, neck, arms and legs in a suspected Yuen Long dog attack
- Last month, a 33-year-old woman was mauled to death at a licensed animal shelter in Ta Kwu Ling
- An AFCD frontline staff member sustained a dog bite to the hand on Wednesday and remains in stable condition
- Registered keeper Kent Luk, founder of Paws Guardian Rescue Shelter, faces charges for expired dog licence and failing to keep dogs under control
- Luk claimed on radio that captured strays would be culled four days after capture; AFCD said the period allows time to locate keepers
- Luk stated he is the registered keeper for nearly 4,000 dogs, mostly strays rescued from streets
Why It Matters
The spate of fatal dog attacks has reignited debate over Hong Kong's animal management policies and the adequacy of the Rabies Ordinance, with welfare advocates calling for review. The confrontation between authorities and Paws Guardian Rescue Shelter underscores the tension between public safety concerns and animal welfare protections in a city with a growing stray population .
The spate of fatal dog attacks has reignited debate over Hong Kong's animal management policies and the adequacy of the Rabies Ordinance, with welfare advocates calling for review. The confrontation between authorities and Paws Guardian Rescue Shelter underscores the tension between public safety concerns and animal welfare protections in a city with a growing stray population .