A sad end: more than half of stray dogs caught in Hong Kong are euthanised

More than half of stray dogs caught in the past year were euthanised – a proportion an animal concern group called “unsatisfactory”.

The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department caught 2,747 strays between September last year and August this year, according to Secretary for Food and Health Dr Ko Wing-man in a written reply to the Legislative Council yesterday.

A total of 1,649 were euthanised, while 699 were adopted through animal welfare organisations.

Over the same period, the department received 6,537 complaints involving stray dogs.

Gloria Li Suk-fun, co-chairwoman of Stop – Save Hong Kong’s Cats and Dogs – said having more than half of dogs killed was “unsatisfactory”. She said it could be explained by the living environment in the city.

“Lots of residences in Hong Kong do not allow people to keep dogs. Public rental housing, private housing and even village houses do not allow dogs,” she said.