Macau greyhounds in government care as Angela Leong misses deadline for securing their future

More than 600 greyhounds have been taken into the care of the Macau government after one of the city’s most powerful women – who effectively owns the racing dogs – failed to come up with a plan to look after them.

The move came just 24 hours before Asia’s only legal dog track closes for good on Saturday, and follows months of bitter wrangling between animal rights activists and government officials in the world’s richest gaming hub.

The government announced on Friday that it had taken responsibility for the dogs. It said Angela Leong On-kei’s company had failed to provide a responsible solution for the canines despite knowing since early 2016 that its lease on the track would expire. On its website, it said the future of the dogs had been “in an uncertain state, causing public anxiety and social problems”.

It added that the company would be punished under the Animal Protection Act and that the authorities would ensure the greyhounds receive adequate care. It did not elaborate on the condition or whereabouts of the animals or on its plans for them.

Leong – businesswoman, lawmaker and fourth wife of casino tycoon Stanley Ho Hung-sun – is the executive director of the company that operates the Macau Canidrome, and has long faced criticism from animal rights groups, who claim the dogs have been kept under cruel conditions.

Leong has repeatedly denied those accusations but has failed to respond to repeated requests for comment from the Post on the fate of the dogs.

She said on Friday afternoon that she would not hold a press conference, as she had earlier intimated she would.

“It is not quite appropriate to hold a press conference today because we have a lot more follow-up work to handle,” Leong told local media.