📋 Tender Overview
The Agriculture Fisheries and Conservation Department AFCD this morning October 26 received a referral from the Police of a suspected dog bite case Officers were immediately deployed to a warehouse on Kam Pok Road Yuen Long where the suspected dog was taken away and sent to an Animal Management Centre for detention and observation The dog concerned is a microchipped mongrel with a valid dog licence The AFCD is following up the investigation and will institute prosecution if there is sufficient evidence that any person has contravened the law
Legal requirements
An AFCD spokesman reminded members of the public The law clearly requires dog keepers to properly control their dogs in public places If a dog bites a person its keeper is also liable A keeper is not limited to a person who owns possesses or has custody of the animal but also includes a person who harbours the animal or the occupier of land or premises on which the animal is usually kept or permitted to remain These persons must clearly understand their legal responsibilities
Under section 23 of the Rabies Ordinance Cap 421 dogs in a public place must be held on a leash or otherwise kept under proper control Offenders are liable to a maximum fine of 10000 If a dog bites a person as a result of such contravention the keeper may also be liable to a further fine of up to 10000 In addition section 9 of the Dangerous Dogs Regulation Cap 167D stipulates that large dogs weighing 20 kilograms or above must be securely held on a leash not exceeding two metres in length by a person when in a public place Contravention of this requirement is liable to a fine of 25000 and imprisonment for three months
AFCDs enforcement actions
In a highdensity urban environment uncontrolled dogs may pose risks to public safety To safeguard community safety the AFCD has been conducting special inspections and enforcement operations on the proper control of dogs at various locations across Hong Kong since August A new phase of special operations was launched on October 8 In the coming four months priority will be given to highrisk locations where dog attacks on passersby and congregations of stray dogs have occurred with a view to strengthening the capturing of unattended dogs These operations have so far captured a total of 10 unattended dogs The AFCD will pursue the responsibilities of the keepers concerned and institute prosecutions based on the evidence obtained
Members of the public who wish to learn more about the proper control of dogs and how to be a responsible pet owner may visit the AFCD website wwwpetsgovhk
