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Pet shop dogs and cats must be vaccinated
Beginning January 1, all dogs and cats on sale at licensed pet shops must be appropriately vaccinated against the common canine or feline diseases by a duly qualified veterinary surgeon, the Agriculture and Fisheries Department (AFD) announced today (Thursday).
This is one of the additional conditions imposed on all animal trading licences involved in the trading of dogs and cats.
Making the announcement, veterinary officer Dr Peter Grandison said the additional conditions had been introduced for the need to safeguard animal health through improvement of the immune status of the Hong Kong dog and cat population at large.
"The changes will help create greater confidence in dog and cat health within the pet trade, regulate against fraudulent practices, improve pet care through public education and provide for greater consumer protection."
Dr Grandison said despite the fact that vaccination was a vital component of protecting animal health. it did not guarantee perfect protection.
Vaccination must be complemented by good management practices, including hygiene, disinfection, attention to welfare and prompt attention to health problems, he added.
Turning to other additional conditions, he said an original vaccination certificate issued and signed by a duly qualified veterinary surgeon must be available in the licensed premises for inspection by an authorised officer at all times.
"It is necessary that any dog or cat being offered for sale must be accompanied by a valid original vaccination certificate which should be given to the purchaser upon a transaction," he said, adding that certificates must cover individual animals only, but not groups.
Other existing conditions cover disease control and animal welfare for dogs and cats inside pet shops.