Macau’s racing greyhounds get speedier path to adoption in Hong Kong as track closure nears
Special measures will allow dogs to be held in quarantine outside city before finishing period at new owner’s home
People in Hong Kong who want to adopt greyhounds from the Macau dog racing track, which will close next Saturday, will now find it easier to do so under a deal struck by authorities from both sides.
Special measures have been put in place to speed up the adoption process for the 650 dogs facing an uncertain future from the imminent closure of the Macau Canidrome, the only dog racing facility in Asia.
People who want to bring pets to Hong Kong from overseas normally have to obtain a special permit from the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD). The animal will then be held for 120 days at one of the city’s quarantine centres.
But the queue for a space at the quarantine centres is currently around four to five months, the AFCD said on Monday.
“As the Canidrome Club will close on July 21, the usual practice will become impractical as citizens interested in adopting those dogs will not have enough time to complete the procedures,” a department spokeswoman said.
