(HKG - CN) Most want tougher action over animal abuse: survey

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Sunday Morning Post

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By Chester Yung

Oct 14, 2007

 

The government should crack down on people who abandon their pets,

most of which are put down, according to a survey by an animal rights

organisation.

 

The online survey, conducted by Animal Earth, found 97.4 per cent of

respondents said people who dumped their pets should be punished, and

94 per cent said the penalty for cruelty was too lenient.

 

The Rabies Ordinance provides for a maximum fine of HK$10,000 and up

to six months in jail for people who abandon animals. For other

cruelty, the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Ordinance sets the

maximum fine at HK$200,000, with up to three years in jail.

 

Although the official policy of the Agriculture, Fisheries and

Conservation Department is to put abandoned dogs up for adoption,

more than 95 per cent are put down because homes cannot be found for

them.

 

Between 2002 and August this year, 3,643 dogs and 605 cats were

adopted, while the department killed 65,304 dogs and 27,117 cats.

 

The " free killing services " offered by the department opened the

floodgates for people to abandon their animals, Animal Earth chief

executive David Wong Kai-yan said.

 

He said he was unaware of any prosecutions for abandoning a pet in

recent years. There were 27 charges of cruelty between 2004 and July

this year.

 

" There is no plan to further increase the penalties at this stage, "

Mr Wong said.

 

With the government expected to submit an amendment to the animal

cruelty law next month, Animal Earth is calling for a comprehensive

review and more control over animal reproduction.

 

" The current animal policy is confusing and not transparent, and

keeps the public in the dark, " Mr Wong said.

 

He said the animal supply chain was full of loopholes. " The

regulation on animal reproduction, for instance, is very weak and

produces many potentially unwanted animals, " he said.

 

" Animals are not products that can be dumped or killed casually. "

 

The survey polled 3,253 people between August 26 and October 8. Sixty-

five per cent of the respondents were pet owners.

 

Four out of five people polled said the department's method of

catching stray dogs - throwing a lasso around its neck and pulling it

into a cage - was inhumane.

 

Of those surveyed, 78 per cent were unaware that animals caught by

the department would be destroyed if unclaimed within four days, and

96 per cent believed the captured animals should not be killed.