Search for stray dogs expanded as new CCTV cameras installed in Yuen Long

Hong Kong officials have broadened their hunt for stray dogs and put up new CCTV cameras in the area where a suspected fatal dog attack occurred, aiming to eliminate safety risks in the neighborhood. This intensified effort occurred three days after a 27-year-old woman was discovered dead on a cycling path in Yuen Long after being pursued by three dogs, sustaining severe injuries that were potentially lethal.

The incident took place in a rural region along Pok Wai South Road, surrounded by a river on one side and warehouses and fish ponds on the other.

Assistant Director Dr Jackie Yip Yin of the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD), who manages inspection and quarantine, disclosed challenges in locating unattended dogs in the expansive area during a radio interview on Tuesday. She stated that authorities are broadening the search radius to include the surrounding vicinity, ensuring that risks in the neighborhood are fully mitigated.

The focus is on identifying as many unattended dogs as possible, with the operation expected to continue for an extended period.

Previously, the AFCD conducted seven search-and-capture missions between June and August due to four complaints of canine nuisance in the area, but no stray dogs were found. The police also installed four temporary security camera systems in the region to monitor stray dogs and enhance the effectiveness of capture efforts. This action followed Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung's remark that authorities should consider additional factors before installing more security cameras in the low-crime area.

If stray dogs or potentially dangerous animals are identified, they will be reported to the AFCD for prompt control operations to safeguard public safety.

Police initially suspected the woman had been killed by the dogs, but further investigations were required to confirm if she was indeed attacked, with wild boars also present in the vicinity. The joint search by the AFCD and police led to the capture of three stray adult mongrels in the area, and authorities plan to conduct DNA tests and bite mark analyses to determine if the three animals were involved in the attack.

Dr Yip noted that the department receives over 1,000 stray dog-related complaints annually, with a 90% decrease in complaints over the past 20 years due to reduced gathering in packs and scavenging for food.

Despite the decline in complaints, Dr Yip emphasized that a single tragedy is unacceptable. In the short term, the AFCD will conduct risk-based capture operations in areas with high concentrations of stray dogs, such as the current location. Captured dogs will be inspected at the AFCD's animal management center, with those exhibiting good temperaments being distributed for public adoption.

Those deemed to pose a threat to public safety may be euthanized. Dr Yip also highlighted the need for stricter enforcement against irresponsible dog owners, including legal action for proper control and increased public education. A lawmaker from the agriculture and fisheries sector, Chan Pok-chi, pointed out that it remains common among rural Hong Kong dog owners to allow pets to roam freely, some refusing to microchip their animals to avoid responsibility.

He stressed that dog owners must refrain from abandoning their dogs and ensure they do not roam unattended, as this is a statutory requirement.