Are Hong Kong’s laws on animal abuse and neglect outdated?
SPCA calls for more awareness and tougher sentences to deter people from cruel acts, as well as for would-be pet owners to think carefully before owning a furry companion
It is a tale of two extremes: as more Hongkongers pamper their pets with spa treatments and take them out in strollers, horrific stories of animals being starved to death or dumped on the streets in large numbers continue to make headlines.
And while the figures may look encouraging – data from the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) indicate that the number of stray animals caught has been on the decline – the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals said outdated laws and lax enforcement allowed cases of animal abuse to continue.
According to the AFCD, 3,880 stray dogs were caught last year, compared with 5,189 in 2015, while nearly 400 fewer people gave up their pets over the same period.
But SPCA said it still had to put down 1,400 animals last year because of a lack of resources.
Teresa Lee Sy-jia, welfare programme manager at SPCA Hong Kong, said cases of animal neglect and abuse stemmed from people having pets without properly considering the responsibilities.