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The Government published in the Gazette today (November 14) the Dangerous Dogs Regulation (Exemption) (Amendment) Notice 2014 and the Rabies (TNR Programme) (Exemption) Notice (collectively referred to as "the Notices"). The Notices seek to disapply certain provisions in the existing Dangerous Dogs Regulation (Cap 167D), the Rabies Ordinance (Cap 421) and the Rabies Regulation (Cap 421A) to enable two animal welfare organisations to implement the Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) programme for stray dogs.
A spokesman for the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) said that the TNR programme was proposed by the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) and the Society for Abandoned Animals (SAA), which have been advocating the TNR concept. Under the TNR, stray dogs are caught, neutered and then returned to their original site with a view to controlling the stray dog population without resorting to euthanasia.
The spokesman said, "The AFCD has agreed to facilitate SPCA and SAA to pursue the initiative under which a three-year trial TNR programme in selected sites will be carried out, with a view to ascertaining the effectiveness of TNR."
Based on the prescribed criteria and in consultation with the stakeholders, including the relevant District Councils, two areas in Cheung Chau and Tai Tong have been identified as the trial zones for the TNR programme. The TNR trial programme will be run by SPCA and SAA, as the Programme Coordinators (PCs), under a set of agreed protocols with the AFCD. The PCs will recruit volunteers and employees as carers to catch, feed and monitor the stray dogs within the trial zones.
Stray dogs caught by the PCs in a trial zone will be subject to medical and temperament assessment. Those dogs passing the assessment and selected to be included in the trial programme will undergo a veterinary examination by a registered veterinary surgeon before they are released back to the trial zone. These dogs will be given prophylactic treatments against various parasites. They will be neutered, microchipped and given anti-rabies vaccination and other vaccines. In addition, a visual identification marker will be put on the dog before they are released to the trial zone.
The spokesman said, "The AFCD may request the PCs to suspend or terminate the programme in order to safeguard public health and safety if circumstances warrant such action."
To enable the animal welfare organisations to implement the TNR programme, the requirements under section 9(1) of Cap 167D (Note 1), and sections 22(1) and 23(1) of Cap. 421 (Note 2), will be disapplied in relation to the release of dogs under the trial programme. Section 20(1) of Cap 421A (Note 3) will also be disapplied in relation to the keeping of dogs under the TNR programme. In exercising the power to grant the exemptions, the Director of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation was satisfied that public or animal health would not be endangered by such exemptions. The exemptions and the relevant supplementary requirements are set out in the Notices.
The Notices will be laid on the table of the Legislative Council on November 19.
Note 1: Section 9(1) of Cap. 167D requires large dogs entering or remaining in a public place to be under control through a leash.
Note 2: Section 22(1) of Cap. 421 prohibits a keeper of an animal from abandoning the animal without reasonable excuse. Section 23(1) provides that a dog must not be in a public place or a place from which it may reasonably be expected to wander into a public place unless it is on a leash or otherwise under control.
Note 3: Section 20(1) of Cap. 421A provides that a person must not keep a dog over the age of 5 months except under and in accordance with a licence.
Ends/Friday, November 14, 2014
Issued at HKT 15:59
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