(CN - HK) Activists accuse department of failing to prevent animal cruelty

[Guest guest]

South China Morning Post

Monday, April 30, 2007

http://hongkong.scmp.com/hknews/ZZZREYBU01F.html

 

Activists accuse department of failing to prevent animal cruelty

by JOSHUA BUT

 

Animal-welfare advocates yesterday accused the Agriculture, Fisheries and

Conservation Department of failing to prevent animal cruelty. David Wong

Kai-yan, of Animal Earth, claimed the department's bureaucracy had

ultimately cost the lives of animals.

 

" The situation has worsened over the past six months and it worries us when

animal abuses are constantly reported in newspapers, " he said.

 

Mr Wong cited the case this month of 16 Lantau buffaloes dying as they were

transported by AFCD officials to Sheung Shui, and of injuries to several

macaque monkeys at Kam Shan Country Park in March.

 

He also recalled the case of pigs being killed inhumanely at a government

slaughterhouse in Sheung Shui in March. The report in a Chinese-language

magazine caused international outrage and prompted 1,500 people to sign an

online petition.

 

The activists also claimed abandoned dogs and cats were being ill-treated in

government kennels.

 

Helena Chung Man-har, of Hong Kong Alley Cat Watch, said: " The hygiene

conditions for the abandoned animals are very poor. The floor is wet and the

air is humid.

 

" My colleagues told me that one has to be psychologically prepared before

going in, " she added.

 

According to Mr Wong, 11 animal welfare groups have been given permission to

enter the government kennels to help re-home abandoned pets, but he wants

the department to allow public access to animal shelters to improve

transparency.

 

" The public should be allowed into the government kennels to choose which

pets they want to adopt. This will force the department to improve the

kennels' conditions, " he said.

 

An AFCD spokesman said there was a standard procedure for handling abandoned

pets, and the government kennels were quarantined areas where no entry could

be allowed without prior consent. The AFCD has repeatedly denied keeping

animals in unsanitary conditions.

 

Rebecca Ngan Yee-ling, of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to

Animals, hoped a broader coverage of animal rights would be part of a

legislative review later this year.