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A spokesman for the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) said today (December 4) that two additional Quarantine Detector Dogs (QDDs) had joined the AFCD's QDD Team to strengthen its current efforts to combat smuggling of live animals and animal products.
The two dogs, a two-year-and-six-month-old local Beagle Cross surrendered by its owner and a two-year-old Labrador from Australia, graduated today after completing their four to eight weeks of basic and operational training. In partnership with their handlers, they will be deployed for field duty at different border control points starting from Monday (December 7).
The newcomers will reinforce the existing team of three QDDs. They are trained to screen a large number of travellers and to detect the scent of live mammals, birds, reptiles and animal products. They will identify and sit beside passengers suspected of carrying prohibited items, including endangered species, animal meat and other animal products, into Hong Kong.
"The QDD programme was introduced in February 2008, aiming to deter illegal importation of live animals and animal products into Hong Kong. This will help safeguard public health by preventing the introduction of animal diseases such as avian influenza and rabies," the AFCD spokesman said.
A health certificate or proper licence is required to bring animals, endangered species, raw meat and poultry into Hong Kong. Offenders are liable to a fine and imprisonment.
A total of over 140,000 travellers have been screened by AFCD's QDDs, with 102 seizures in the last 12 months at border crossings.
Ends/Friday, December 4, 2009
Issued at HKT 18:07
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