PET owners fear dogs may be wrongly slaughtered under proposed changes to canine laws, a survey revealed yesterday.
Owners rejected proposals allowing Agriculture and Fisheries Department officers to authorise the destruction of dangerous dogs.
A poll conducted by a pet magazine revealed 60 per cent of the 270 respondents believed only a magistrate should have such power.
In its proposed amendments to the Dogs and Cats Ordinance last month, the department suggested officers be authorised to seize, detain and destroy any dangerous dog.
My Pet magazine editor-in-chief, Maggie Ng Miu-man, said owners were concerned dogs could be unfairly put down unless their status as a dangerous dog and the circumstances of any incident was proven in court.
'It is like saying a policeman should be put in the place of a judge,' Ms Ng said.
