Surge in stray dogs in Hong Kong’s New Territories sparks calls for action
- Government urged to implement measures such as setting up animal shelters and relaxing rules for residents to keep pets in rehousing units
A surge in stray and abandoned dogs in the past six months in new development areas of Hong Kong’s New Territories has prompted lawmakers and animal welfare advocates to call for more support for displaced pets.
They urged the authorities to set up shelters to house animals left behind by owners who relocated, relax rules for residents to keep pets in rehousing flats and offer more aid to animal protection groups.
Lawmaker Edward Lau Kwok-fan, of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong (DAB), said on Saturday that conditions had worsened in development areas of Kwu Tung North, Fanling North and Hung Shui Kiu.
He said animals were left behind by owners who moved to public flats or emigrated, while land resumption had also forced warehouses and garages to close, leaving guard dogs previously used at the sites abandoned.
“Many animal protection volunteers who are active in the New Territories North have reported to us that the number of stray or abandoned dogs has increased significantly over the recent half a year compared with the previous year,” he said.
“Moving to public housing, land resumption and emigration have become the main reasons given by dog owners for abandoning their pets.”
Kent Luk Ka-jeep, founder of the Paws Guardian Rescue Shelter, said his group received an influx of calls for help with abandoned animals in Yuen Long and Hung Shui Kiu, with many owners forced to leave behind their pets after they relocated to public estates.
