(CN - HKG) ID system for pets urged to end smuggling

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Traders want licences for hobby breeders to protect the trade

 

South China Morning Post

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by Celine Sun

Sep 18, 2007

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Pet traders have urged the government to set up an identification

system for puppies and kittens bred in Hong Kong to crack down on the

trade in smuggled animals.

 

They also want to see trading licences issued to hobby breeders as a

way to protect the industry.

 

The calls came as the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation

Department prepares to tighten the trade this month by specifying

that all dogs sold in Hong Kong must come from legal importers or the

city's licensed animal traders.

 

At the same time, the department plans to raise the maximum penalty

for anyone selling pets without a licence from HK$2,000 to HK$100,000.

 

These measures are included in a series of amendments to the animal

trading regulation that will be proposed to the Legislative Council

in November in an effort to fight the problem of animal smuggling.

 

The new policies have drawn strong opposition from pet shops,

however, who are worried they will be unable to continue selling

puppies and kittens from hobby breeders.

 

Chan Chow-pui, chairman of the Hong Kong Pet Trade Association, said

the government's proposal, if it became effective, would deal a

severe blow to the pet-trading industry. " There's almost no way for

hobby breeders to acquire licences, as most breed puppies and kittens

at home instead of on commercial premises as required by the

government. "

 

He added that locally bred pets were usually of good health and much

cheaper than imported animals of the same breed.

 

According to official statistics, around 14,000 puppies are sold in

Hong Kong every year, yet not a single breeding kennel has registered

with the department so far.

 

It is believed most are imported illegally from the mainland, where

rabies kills thousands of people every year.

 

Mr Chan said an identification system for locally bred pets could

help solve the problem. It would require dog and cat breeders to take

photos of their animals, implant microchips and vaccinate puppies and

kittens.

 

" An identification system will help the government to distinguish

them from smuggled animals, as it is easy to acquire detailed

breeding information through microchips implanted in the animals. "

 

He said the association had collected opinions from local pet shops

and pet product wholesalers, and would talk to the department later.

 

Legislator Albert Chan Wai-yip said he would not like to see a wave

of animals being abandoned as a result of the government's proposal

if hobby breeders were prohibited from selling their puppies and

kittens.

 

" It's not justified for the government to block hobby breeders from

selling their animals, " he said.

 

" We have seen many dogs and cats bred by the city's hobby breeders

win top prizes in international pet shows. They are just like the

athletes winning a reputation for Hong Kong. It would be a pity if

the industry shrinks due to the government's over-regulated policy. "