Demand for dog DNA tests surges after Hong Kong clampdown over attacks

A government clampdown following a spate of dog attacks in Hong Kong has sparked a rush for canine DNA testing, while animal welfare groups warn the aggressive enforcement could trigger a wave of pet abandonments. Amid mounting public backlash over the sudden seizure and impounding of suspected fighting dogs, an advocacy group on Monday urged authorities to introduce a one-year grace period for owners to voluntarily declare pets with fighting-breed traits. The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department stepped up inspections and seizures across the city following a string of dog attacks, including one in which the 33-year-old owner of a pet training facility was mauled by a mixed-breed dog registered as a mongrel. She was found dead nearby shortly after the attack. The incident exposed major loopholes in the city’s self-declaration microchip registration system, after the animal was found to carry genetic traits of the pit bull terrier – one of four fighting breeds strictly banned from import and unauthorised breeding in Hong Kong. As panic spread among dog owners, commercial testing centres saw a surge in clients seeking genetic proof to prevent their pets from being impounded. Clement Lai Yat-lung, founder of pet testing firm Hero DNA, said inquiries had surged more than fivefold over the past week, jumping from about 10 to between 50 and 60. He said that many dog owners, particularly those with mongrels, were anxious about government enforcement and hoped a DNA test result would prevent authorities from seizing their pets. “They see that their dogs are not purebred and worry that the animals may be seized. So they come to us for help,” Lai said. He said one client who adopted two mongrels was recently harassed on the street, and “an elderly woman even hit one of the dogs with an umbrella”. To handle the surge in demand, Lai said his firm expedited turnaround times from 30 days to 10, despite higher operational costs. Mark Mak Chi-ho, founder of the Non-Profit Making Veterinary Services Society, said that while the crackdown boosted demand for DNA tests, it could prompt anxious owners to abandon their pets out of fear of breaking the law. “What I am particularly concerned about is free-ranging dogs. These dogs may not be registered yet, so their owners might simply decide [to abandon] them,” he said. “Most of them are mongrels, which have mixed appearances from many different breeds. If the animal’s head is bigger, or it is stronger, people may call it a fighting or dangerous dog.” Mak called for greater clarity and consultation before amending the regulations, while reassuring dog owners that if their pets were registered and sterilised, they would not be breaking the law, regardless of their breed profile. Shelters have recorded an uptick in surrender inquiries. Kent Luk Ka-chit, founder of Paws Guardian Rescue Shelter, said daily calls about abandonment had risen to two or three a day, compared with one or two a week previously. He cited a case in which a dog owner brought his licensed pet to the department for vaccination and was told the animal was suspected of being a fighting dog. The pet was subsequently detained and the owner later abandoned the dog, he said. “If their dogs are classified as fighting dogs, owners face heavy responsibilities going forward,” Luk explained. “They must use a leash no longer than 1.5 metres, fit the dogs with red-and-yellow collars and keep them muzzled. Some even say they may need to buy insurance.” Luk criticised the government’s approach as divisive and counterproductive, calling for public education rather than heavy-handed seizures. “Authorities could introduce a grace period so that owners who are uncertain about their pets’ breeds can bring them in for inspection,” he added. Lau Chun-hoi, coordinator of the NGO Animal Welfare Advocacy Alliance, said during a radio programme that enforcement actions had increased the pressure on dog owners, prompting some to abandon their pets. He said his group had recorded a 50 per cent month-on-month increase in dog abandonment cases, adding that he had personally handled 16 cases. Lau said the sudden seizure of suspected fighting dogs left many pet owners in panic. He also expressed concerns that detaining the canines could alter their temperament and make them more aggressive. “Regulating fighting dogs is necessary, but the current pace is too fast and too sudden, leaving dog owners at a loss,” he said. “I do not believe that keeping the dog for another one or two weeks will pose any major threat to society.” He warned that sudden seizures could distress the animals and cause unnecessary heartbreak for both pets and their owners. He added that such enforcement sparked conflict and ran counter to the government’s aim of boosting the pet economy and building a pet-inclusive society. Lau called on authorities to establish a one-year buffer period for owners to declare any dogs they knew or suspected of exhibiting fighting-dog traits. “I do not think a comprehensive screening is necessary … because, after all, there are a large number of mongrels,” he said. “If every dog has to be re-examined, the burden on the government, the administrative workload, and the pressure on owners will be very heavy.” Speaking on the same show, lawmaker Chan Pok-chi proposed setting up a dedicated channel for residents to report irresponsible dog owners who violate the law. The legislator, who represents the agriculture and fisheries sector, also discussed the issue of unregistered fighting dogs and noted that some owners who adopted pets or received them from friends might not be fully aware of the animals’ crossbreed characteristics. But he also acknowledged ongoing dog smuggling and illegal breeding in the city as a potential contributing factor, noting that some shops instructed customers on how to evade regulations. A check by the South China Morning Post on WeChat found multiple mainland Chinese shops advertising same-day delivery of dogs to homes in Hong Kong, offering a wide range of breeds. Chan called for interdepartmental enforcement action to curb dog smuggling at its source. He also urged the government to improve the current registration system by introducing photo analysis and using genetic testing to provide additional information for breed verification, while outlining a clear appeals mechanism. Hong Kong law stipulates that all imported dogs and cats from the mainland must undergo a mandatory 30-day quarantine. The importing, breeding, selling and keeping of fighting dogs without a licence is prohibited. Anyone in possession of a fighting dog commits an offence if the owner fails to produce a veterinary certificate proving that the animal has been neutered. Those convicted face a maximum penalty of a HK$50,000 (US$6,380) fine and six months in jail. The law also requires that any dogs weighing no less than 20kg (44lbs) must be secured in public with a leash of up to two metres, with offenders facing a maximum penalty of three months in jail and a HK$25,000 fine. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu earlier promised to review laws governing dangerous dogs and the related penalties in response to the dog attacks.

Demand for dog DNA tests surges after Hong Kong clampdown over attacks

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Animal welfare groups also warn that the government’s response to a string of dog attacks could lead to a wave of pet abandonments

Animal welfare groups also warn that the government’s response to a string of dog attacks could lead to a wave of pet abandonments