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The death of a woman after she was chased by dogs has revived discussion on the regulatory regime for canines and pet owners’ responsibilities

People and dogs usually coexist peacefully in Hong Kong. The recent licensing of nearly 1,000 restaurants to admit dogs is evidence of that. The deaths of two young women after they had been mauled by dogs therefore comes as a shock. They have prompted reflection and soul-searching about the canine legal and regulatory regime and the responsibilities and accountability of pet owners.

The government has pledged to review and strengthen its policy on stray dogs, which were apparently involved in one of the attacks. That has to be welcomed. What also has to be borne in mind is that dogs reflect an environment shaped and controlled by people; some canines have been abandoned and left to fend for themselves after being trained as guard dogs.

Growing public safety concerns are understandable. Last month, a large, unleashed dog killed two small dogs near a shopping mall in Yuen Long. In the same week, a 33-year-old woman, who operated a pet-training and boarding centre in Ta Kwu Ling, was found dead after being attacked by a big mixed-breed dog awaiting adoption when she tried to return it to its cage after letting it out for feeding. She was alone at the time. Her injuries included head and neck wounds.

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In the case of this week’s victim, aged 27, security footage shows her leaving Yuen Long MTR on a cycle, then being chased by dogs along Pok Wai South Road. She was later found unconscious with wounds to her head and neck that are believed to have been fatal.

The government’s promise of a policy review on stray dogs followed warnings from animal shelters of pets being abandoned in the New Territories amid land resumption for development projects.

They note that many supposed “strays” involved in attacks are actually poorly secured warehouse guard dogs, sometimes without microchips, highlighting a significant loophole in current pet law enforcement. Many warehouses, open car parks and villages in the New Territories, including parts of Sheung Shui, Ping Shan, Fanling and Yuen Long have resorted to keeping guard dogs for decades.

Following this week’s incident, the authorities have expanded their search radius to capture stray dogs and installed new surveillance cameras in the area where the suspected fatal attack took place. On Monday, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) said it had worked with police to capture three stray mongrels near Pok Wai South Road, where the victim was found.

The tragedies have sparked a debate Hong Kong needs to have on dog ownership, responsibilities and control. The AFCD had already stepped up inspections and seizures across the city following last month’s dog attacks. The incident at the pet training facility exposed loopholes in the city’s self-declaration microchip registration system, after the animal was found to carry genetic traits of the pit bull terrier, one of four fighting breeds banned from import and unauthorised breeding in Hong Kong.

Mark Mak Chi-ho, founder and executive chairman of the non-profit Veterinary Services Society, has called for greater clarity and consultation before amending regulations. He said that while the crackdown had boosted demand for DNA tests to identify fighting genes, it could prompt anxious owners to abandon their pets out of fear of breaking the law.

Many social media users have shared accounts of pets being injured or even killed by large dogs in Hong Kong. In one case, the owner of a large dog was fined HK$2,000 while the animal was classified as a known dangerous dog. The deterrent effect is an issue.

Sally Andersen, founder of Hong Kong Dog Rescue, has said a loose licensing regime had created loopholes that allowed some dog owners to dodge responsibility. Some had abandoned or given away microchipped dogs without changing the registered owner.

Some animal welfare advocates say a “duty of care” requirement for owners should be included in legislation. A public consultation begun in 2019 unearthed divergent views about this among stakeholders. While the response of the authorities to the tragedies might have made the city a safer place, the best way forward remains education on the duties of responsible ownership coupled with effective law enforcement and proactive control and neutering of potentially dangerous stray dogs.

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This article originally appeared on the South China Morning Post (www.scmp.com), the leading news media reporting on China and Asia.

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