(HK) Call to make dumping animals an offence

[Guest guest]

South China Morning Post (CITY)

By Celine Sun 2008-02-20

 

 

Call to make dumping animals an offence

 

 

 

Lawmakers are urging the government to make abandoning animals an

offence under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Ordinance.

 

A proposal to that effect was put forward at a meeting yesterday of the

Legislative Council's panel on food safety and environmental hygiene.

 

Democratic Party legislator Cheung Man-kwong said abandoning pets was as

serious as other abusive behaviour, like beating or ill treatment, and

thus deserved to be included in the ordinance.

 

 

Abandonment of animals is regarded as an offence in the Rabies

Ordinance, which specifies that a keeper of an animal, who abandons that

animal without reasonable reasons, is liable to a fine of HK$10,000 and

imprisonment for six months.

 

But this is different, Mr Cheung said. The Rabies Ordinance is to

prevent the infectious disease, whereas the Prevention of Cruelty to

Animals Ordinance is to tell the public that abandoning animals is

unethical.

 

Lawmaker Choy So-yuk, for the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and

Progress of Hong Kong, believed making abandonment illegal would be an

effective way to reduce the number of stray dogs and cats.

 

This will serve as a clear warning for those who may have become tired

of their pets, she said.

 

The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, which is

reviewing the ordinance, said the proposal needed more consideration.

Deputy director Lau Sin-pang said there was difficulty in distinguishing

between abandoned animals and those that were strays.

 

 

 

A series of amendments were proposed by the government in an effort to

improve the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Ordinance and the Public

Health Animals and Birds (Animal Traders) Regulations.

 

It includes raising the maximum penalties for illegal trading of animals

and breaching trading licensing conditions from HK$2,000 to HK$100,000

and from HK$1,000 to HK$50,000, respectively.

 

 

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