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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 1991
IMPORT OF DANGEROUS DOGS DISALLOWED
THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT (AFD) HAS, SINCE EARLY SEPTEMBER, DISALLOWED THE IMPORT OF TWO BREEDS OF DANGEROUS DOGS SPECIALLY BRED FOR FIGHTING
THE PIT BULL TERRIER AND THE JAPANESE TOSA IN THE INTEREST OF PUBLIC SAFETY.
JLL
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THE DEPARTMENT'S SENIOR VETERINARY OFFICER, DR BARRY BOUSEFIELD, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY) THAT AFD HAD ISSUED A LETTER TO VARIOUS KENNEL ASSOCIATIONS IN HONG KONG ON SEPTEMBER 12 INFORMING THEM OF THE IMPORT BAN.
AN APPLICATION TO IMPORT A JAPANESE TOSA AND HIS PUPPIES INTO THE TERRITORY FROM THE UK WAS TURNED DOWN BY THE DEPARTMENT EARLY THIS MONTH.
"WE SEE A NEED TO TIGHTEN UP CONTROL ON THE IMPORT AND KEEPING OF DANGEROUS DOGS IN HONG KONG BECAUSE A NUMBER OF RELIABLE REPORTS FROM OVERSEAS HAVE INDICATED THAT THESE DOGS ARE DANGEROUS AND THAT THEY HAVE ATTACKED HUMANS, CAUSING SEVERE OR EVEN FATAL INJURIES," DR BOUSEFIELD EXPLAINED.
THE UK AND SINGAPORE HAVE RECENTLY BANNED THE IMPORT OF PIT BULL TERRIERS AND JAPANESE TOSAS FOLLOWING AN INCIDENT IN YORKSHIRE IN WHICH A SIX-YEAR-OLD GIRL WAS ATTACKED AND SEVERELY INJURED BY A PIT BULL TERRIER LET OFF ITS LEASH BY ITS OWNER.
IMPLEMENTED UNDER THE DOGS AND DOGS AND CATS ORDINANCE. THESE THE DISCRETION NOT TO GRANT IMPORT MAY POSE A SIGNIFICANT DANGER ΤΟ
"HONG KONG'S IMPORT CURB IS CATS REGULATIONS 12 AND 20 OF THE REGULATIONS PROVIDE AFD WITH PERMITS COVERING ANY DOGS WHICH PUBLIC SAFETY, HE WENT ON.
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ACCORDING TO DR BOUSEFIELD, 10 PIT BULL TERRIERS WERE IMPORTED INTO HONG KONG IN THE LAST THREE YEARS AND THERE IS NO JAPANESE TOSA IN THE TERRITORY.
"WE HAVE ALSO ASKED THE KENNEL ASSOCIATIONS то EMPHASISE ΤΟ THEIR MEMBERS WHO OWN DANGEROUS DOGS THE NEED TO KEEP THEIR DOGS ON A LEAD, MUZZLED AND UNDER PROPER CONTROL AT ALL TIMES WHENEVER IN A PUBLIC PLACE," DR BOUSEFIELD SAID.
HE SAID ANYONE WHO FAILS TO KEEP THEIR DOGS UNDER PROPER CONTROL IN A PUBLIC PLACE IS LIABLE TO A MAXIMUM FINE OF $5,000 AND IMPRISONMENT OF SIX MONTHS.
"MEANWHILE, WE ARE ACTIVELY SEEKING IMPROVED CONTROLS ON THE KEEPING OF DANGEROUS DOGS THROUGH AMENDMENTS TO THE DOGS AND CATS ORDINANCE," HE ADDED.
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