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Following is a question by the Hon Fred Li and a written reply by the Secretary for Food and Health, Dr York Chow, in the Legislative Council today (February 11):
Question:
I have recently received complaints from some members of the public, who planned to adopt cats and dogs kept by the animal management centres under the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD), that while undergoing the relevant adoption procedure, AFCD had euthanised the animals concerned without prior notice. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(a) of the time normally taken by members of the public to complete the procedure for adopting the cats and dogs kept by the animal management centres;
(b) what reasons AFCD usually adopts in deciding to euthanise cats or dogs kept by the animal management centres, and what procedure it follows in making such decisions; of the current mechanism for reviewing such decisions and monitoring the euthanasia procedure;
(c) whether it will, before euthanising the cats and dogs, inform those people who are undergoing the procedure for adopting the animals concerned; if it will, what channels are available for members of the public to raise objections against the decisions to euthanise the animals concerned; if not, the reasons for that; and
(d) whether it will give up euthanasia as the major method to deal with abandoned or stray cats and dogs, and expeditiously switch to using the method of trapping, neutering and returning such animals to original colony; if it will, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?
Reply:
President,
(a) At present, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) collaborates with several animal welfare organisations in providing animal re-homing service. People who are interested in adopting animals can make adoption arrangements through these animal welfare organisations, information of which have been uploaded onto AFCD's website.
AFCD will not arrange re-homing immediately, as it is necessary for AFCD to ensure that a stray animal kept by the department will not be reclaimed by its owners after it has been caught or received. While attempting to contact the animal owners and during the waiting period, AFCD will examine the animals, and in parallel, assess if the health condition and the temperament of the animals make them suitable for re-homing. Generally speaking, AFCD will accept re-homing applications from animal welfare organisations on the fourth working day after the stray animals were caught or received. Animals selected by animal welfare organisations must be de-sexed, vaccinated and implanted with microchip if they are dogs, and in turn issued with operation/vaccination certificates by veterinary surgeons. Afterwards, they may be collected from AFCD's Animal Management Centres (AMCs) by the relevant animal welfare organisations for re-homing.
People who are interested in adopting animals may contact the animal welfare organisations which are in collaboration with AFCD for re-homing arrangements, and the procedures needed are decided by these organisations.
(b) As mentioned in part (a) of the reply, stray animals caught or received by AFCD will normally be kept in AFCD's AMCs for observation. During the observation period, veterinary surgeons on duty will closely monitor the animals' health and other conditions to ensure their suitability for re-homing. Only animals which are acutely sick, assessed to be unsuitable for re-homing due to health or temperament reasons, or could not be re-homed by animal welfare organisations will be euthanised. All euthanasia operations are conducted by AFCD veterinary officers.
(c) If a member of the public has written to the relevant AMC to indicate his/her intention to adopt an animal which is to be euthanised, AFCD will notify the relevant individual of the decision and reasons to euthanise in advance if time permits. People who object to euthanising the animals they wish to adopt may express their views to AFCD. AFCD will examine in detail each and every case to ensure that only animals not suitable for re-homing are euthanised.
(d) We believe that enhancing public awareness on well-treating animals is the most effective solution to the problem of abandoned and stray animals. In this connection, AFCD has been stepping up education and bringing home the message of responsible pet ownership through different channels and at various levels, including Announcements of Public Interest on television and radio and posters on public transport to promote care for animals. In addition, AFCD produces promotional leaflets, posters and souvenirs for free distribution to the public and organises promotional activities to enhance publicity.
In 2007, AFCD, in collaboration with the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, consulted the 18 District Councils (DCs) on the "Trap-Neuter-Return" programme. DCs have differing views; half of the DCs consulted supported the implementation of the programme in their districts, while seven expressed objection and two made no indication. At present, AFCD is actively discussing with animal welfare organisations regarding the feasibility of the programme and the legal liabilities concerned. Upon working out the implementation details, AFCD will assist the relevant animal welfare organisations to put in place a trial programme as soon as possible after the relevant DC is consulted.
Ends/Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Issued at HKT 12:15
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