- 2 -
No place for aggressive dogs in Hong Kong
The Agriculture and Fisheries Department (AFD) today (Friday) advised that there is no place for aggressive dogs in Hong Kong.
The advice was made by an AFD senior veterinary officer, Dr Les Sims, following this morning's coroner verdict on a case in which a baby was killed by an aggressive dog in Wong Tai Sin last March.
Dr Sims said dog owners should choose their pets carefully, taking into account the living environment into which the animal would be introduced. They should also seek professional advice on training and care of their dogs.
He pointed out that potential owners should not keep a dog such as the one involved in this fatality, which was a Pit Bull Terrier cross.
"Dogs of this type are derived from stock that were bred for fighting.
"They are highly likely to attack other animals and when fighting, do not respond to normal cut off signals such as signs of submission - they fight to the death."
Infants should never be left unsupervised with dogs, even for short periods of time, he
stressed,
"When a dog bites a young child there is a high risk of serious injury which may lead to permanent disfigurement or even death," he added.
On prevention of attacks by aggressive dogs, Dr Sims said that the Dangerous Dogs Regulation had been tabled to the Legislative Council.
Under the proposed Regulation, importing and breeding of fighting breeds would be banned, with the result that fighting dogs would be phased out eventually.
It is also proposed that those contravening the Regulation could face a maximum penalty of $50,000 fine and six months' imprisonment.
The Regulation includes provisions for owners of such dogs to surrender them during a transition period.
Those dogs that are not surrendered would be required to wear a muzzle and be kept on a leash when in a public place. They would need to be neutered, identified by a microchip and wear a bright collar to indicate that they are dangerous. Owners of the dogs would have to obtain a public liability insurance policy.
End