All bark and no bite? Hong Kong’s Ombudsman wants dog licensing regime toughened as number of unlicensed, unvaccinated canines soars
- Ombudsman uncovers more than 167,000 unlicensed dogs over past decade, tells Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department to step up oversight
- System designed to prevent rabies flagging due to a lack of inspections, Ombudsman finds, with prosecutions also dropping
Hong Kong authorities must keep a tighter leash on local dog owners, the city’s Ombudsman has recommended, after finding more than 167,000 canines were unlicensed and unvaccinated over the past decade amid dwindling inspections.
Ombudsman Winnie Chiu Wai-yin on Thursday made 11 suggestions to the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department in regard to its oversight of pet owners, saying it had failed to properly update and renew licences, vaccinate and microchip Hong Kong’s dogs.
“The dog-licensing system originated from the government’s efforts to prevent and control rabies. The initial intention was to protect public health,” Chiu said. “Relying on education and dog keepers’ self discipline alone is not sufficient.”
“The AFCD needs to adopt a two-pronged approach, with both education and enforcement for effective regulation.”
Under the Rabies Ordinance, dogs older than five months must be licensed, vaccinated against rabies and microchipped. The microchip is valid for the animal’s entire lifespan, while rabies shots and licences must be renewed every three years.
But senior investigative officer Teresa Poon said that between January 2011 and June this year, more than 167,800 licences had expired, with nearly 40 per cent between two and five years out of date.
More than a quarter had been expired for more than five years.
