Lawmaker urges crackdown on dog smuggling and illegal breeding after fatal attack

A lawmaker has urged the government to step up efforts against dog smuggling and illegal breeding after a woman was killed in a suspected dog attack at a pet center in Ta Kwu Ling.

The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department has preliminarily identified the dog involved as a crossbreed with fighting-dog lineage rather than an ordinary mongrel. The government has since said it will review the definition and list of “fighting dogs” under existing regulations, as well as broader controls on dangerous and large dogs.

Speaking on a radio program on Monday, lawmaker Rebecca Chan Hoi-yan, chairwoman of the Legislative Council’s Panel on Food Safety and Environmental Hygiene, said dog smuggling and illegal breeding remained unresolved problems and were difficult to police.

She called on the SAR government, along with mainland authorities, to strengthen controls at source and consider whether Hong Kong’s list of regulated fighting-dog breeds should be expanded.

Chan also urged the public not to stigmatize dogs more broadly because of the recent attacks, saying dogs remained close companions to people.

Under the Dangerous Dogs Regulation, four types of fighting dogs — Pit Bull Terriers, Japanese Tosas, Dogo Argentinos and Fila Brasileiros — as well as their crossbreeds, are prohibited from being imported or bred in Hong Kong. They are also subject to strict controls, including mandatory neutering, muzzling and leashing in public places.

However, the dog involved in the Ta Kwu Ling case was recorded on its microchip as a mongrel, despite veterinary assessment indicating that it had fighting-dog ancestry. AFCD has said it will investigate how the discrepancy arose and trace the animal’s origin.

Chan said the case highlighted potential weaknesses in the licensing system, as breed information is largely based on declarations made when dogs are young and their mixed-breed characteristics may not yet be obvious.

She said relying on visual identification alone could make it difficult for veterinarians or AFCD officers to identify fighting-dog ancestry in puppies.

While she stopped short of calling for mandatory DNA tests for all dogs, Chan suggested that the government consider a breed reassessment when dogs reach around one year old - a practice adopted by UK authorities. DNA testing could then be required where veterinarians have doubts about a dog’s lineage, she said.

Veterinarian Eric Lai Cheong-sang, speaking on the same program, agreed that identifying mixed breeds by appearance alone could be difficult when dogs are still young and supported the use of DNA testing in doubtful cases.

He also raised concerns over safety procedures at pet hotels and dog training centers, saying operators handling potentially dangerous animals should assess their behavioral history and have protective equipment and isolation facilities available.
 

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