(CN - HKG) City Dog Parks

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Sun setting on harbourfront oasis for pets and their owners

Fox Yi Hu

Jan 16, 2010

South China Morning Post

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Dog lovers are calling for more public space for their pets as the city's

most popular dog park faces closure.

The Wan Chai Waterfront Promenade opened in April 2007 as a temporary park

designed for dogs and closes on January 27 to make way for the Central-Wan

Chai Bypass.

 

 

The deputy director of community development at the Society for the

Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Michael Wong Ho-ming, said the 1.2-hectare

park had been a favourite spot for dog owners because of its location and

dog-friendly features.

 

" It's only five to 10 minutes' walk for people living in Causeway Bay and

Wan Chai, " Wong said. " There are fences to allow big dogs to go off leash.

Much of the park is covered by grass or wooden boards. "

 

It was often crowded with people and their dogs even at midnight.

 

A carnival called " Warm goodbye to Wan Chai pet park " , organised by the SPCA

and the Wan Chai District Council, will take place at the park on Sunday. It

will feature dog agility games, obedience competitions and the sharing of

adoption stories.

 

The SPCA is among groups pushing the government to open more parks to pets.

Wong suggested dogs be allowed in part of Victoria Park to ease the shortage

of green public space for dogs. He said Victoria Park was spacious,

accessible and had grass, making it an ideal choice.

 

Brooke Babington, chairwoman of Stop! Save Hong Kong's Cats and Dogs, -

http://www.hkstop.org/ - which

campaigns against the killing of abandoned animals, said such parks were

important to keep dogs healthy and quiet at home.

 

" One of the complaints about dogs is noise. The reason behind their barking

is there's nowhere to exercise them, " Babington, who has four dogs, said.

" It's important to exercise your animals. If you don't, that's where their

behaviour problems come in. "

 

Yolanda Ng Yuen-ting, vice-chairwoman of Wan Chai District Council's

cultural and leisure services committee, said some sports grounds in the

district might be partially opened to pets. Ng said she would ask the

committee to consider opening up such sites.

 

She said the record of the Wan Chai Waterfront Promenade showed good hygiene

could be maintained in dog parks. " Some people are concerned about pets'

impact on a park's hygiene, but the place has been kept very clean, " Ng

said.

 

The city's three other pet-friendly parks are in Sai Ying Pun, Yau Ma Tei

and Kwun Tong. Babington said the Sai Ying Pun venue was too small to

exercise dogs.

 

The government has approved a plan to establish a pet park at Jardine's

Lookout which may open in the near future.

 

Two more such parks may be opened in Tai Po and Sham Shui Po.