We hope that the 14-month-old boy, who was attacked by stray dogs in Yuen Long, makes a speedy recovery ('Yuen Long toddler attacked by pack of dogs', December 22).
It is very sad to read such reports and, with any attack, people instinctively blame the dogs. However, we should take a step back and think about who the victims really are, why such incidents take place and how they can be prevented. One of the main causes of stray dogs is abandonment by people and by commercial interests like, in this case, allegedly, a former container yard. Sometimes people simply find their once-loved pets not worth loving any more.
In Hong Kong, it is an offence to abandon animals, but we seldom see the law enforced. When once-domesticated dogs are left on their own to survive, like any other animals - including humans - they act on their instincts. When these animals feel threatened, they defend themselves. These homeless dogs did not choose to be where they are. They are there because of irresponsible people, unenforced laws, and uninformed government policies and implementers. When their instincts cause them to hurt people, the dogs are always chased after and, if caught, always killed. For over 20 years, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department has carried out this policy, but it has not, and will not, solve the problem of strays. The dogs, as well as the humans, are victims.
Apart from calling for more stringent enforcement of abandonment laws, animal welfare groups have long been working hard for the implementation of trap-neuter-and-release (TNR) schemes. TNR has proved to be a more humane and effective way to alleviate the problem of homeless animals. If stray dogs cannot simply be wiped out after 20 years of carrying out its policy, something must be wrong with the department's strategy.
We must enforce our laws so people cannot dispose of dogs and cats as rubbish. There are well-researched schemes for dealing with problems of strays which are readily available if the department wishes to improve its current practice.
David Wong Kai-yan, founder and chief officer, Animal Earth
