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Hong Kong's response to a series of dog attacks has led to a surge in demand for genetic testing services among pet owners. The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department has intensified inspections and enforcement actions following the attacks, which have raised concerns among the community. Animal welfare groups warn that the enforcement push could result in a wave of pet abandonments.

One of the cases involved a 33-year-old owner of a pet training facility who was attacked and killed by a mixed-breed fighting dog registered as a mongrel. Questions have emerged about the effectiveness of the dog registration system, which relies on self-declaration by owners. A dog sharing genetic traits with a banned fighting breed, the pit bull terrier, was listed as a mongrel on its microchip.

Mark Mak Chi-ho, founder of the Non-Profit Making Veterinary Services Society, reports that more owners are taking their pets for genetic testing due to the heightened enforcement actions. Hero DNA, a pet genetic testing centre, has seen a significant increase in inquiries, with 50 to 60 requests in the past week compared to the usual 10. Many pet owners, especially those with mongrels, are anxious about government enforcement and hope a genetic test result will prevent authorities from seizing their pets.

Clement Lai Yat-lung, founder of Hero DNA, noted that the company fast-tracked processing times for genetic tests from 30 days to 10 days to accommodate the surge in demand. However, Mak warns of a potential surge in dog abandonment as some owners worry about stricter regulations and fear they might have violated the law. He proposes a one-year buffer period allowing owners to declare suspected dangerous dogs, aiming to appease the community.

Lau Chun-hoi, coordinator of the NGO Animal Welfare Advocacy Alliance, reports a 50% month-on-month increase in dog abandonment cases since the enforcement actions. He urges the government to establish a one-year buffer period for owners to declare any dogs they know or suspect of exhibiting fighting-dog traits, emphasizing that a comprehensive screening is unnecessary given the large number of mongrels.

Lau also calls for clearer guidelines and consultation before amending regulations, reassuring owners that registered and sterilized pets are not breaking the law, regardless of breed classification.