Press Releases
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Dog owners reminded to observe Dangerous Dogs Regulation The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) reminds dog owners to observe the Dangerous Dogs Regulation following a magistrate's decision to declare two Chow dogs as "Known Dangerous Dogs". The court orders are the first of their kind since the passing of the Dangerous Dogs Regulation by the Legislative Council last year, a spokesman for AFCD said today (March 11). A magistrate may declare a dog to be a known dangerous dog if it attacks and causes serious injury to a person or domestic animal in the absence of provocation of any kind or if it repeatedly attacks or puts people in fear of being attacked. The magistrate in Tsuen Wan Magistracy made orders to classify two Chow dogs as "Known Dangerous Dogs" on February 16, 2001. This followed conviction of the dogs' owner for improperly controlling her dogs when they bit and injured people in separate incidents on June 10 and July 15 last year. "After these incidents, AFCD staff issued directions under the Dangerous Dogs Regulation to the owner to keep both of her dogs within her premises. If the owner wished to take her dogs outside to a public place, she was directed to hold them on a leash and fit them with muzzles. "Our staff have visited the owner's residence eight times for surprise checks for compliance starting last summer. During the latest visit in early March, our staff found both dogs on a leash and kept within the owner's premises. "The owner was reminded to have the two dogs neutered on or before May 17 to comply with the Dangerous Dogs Regulation," the spokesman said. The Regulation provides for controls over three categories of dogs: "Fighting Dogs", "Known Dangerous Dogs" and "Large Dogs". Penalties for breaches of this Regulation include fines of up to $25,000 and jail for up to three months for breaches of laws relating to known dangerous dogs and large dogs. Fines of up to $50,000 and jail for six months apply to certain provisions relating to fighting dogs. Meanwhile, AFCD will continue to promote responsible ownership of dogs so that owners become more aware of their obligations and to ensure they keep their dogs controlled at all times. Further information on the Dangerous Dogs Regulation can be obtained from AFCD's Animal Management Centre hotline on 2362 3257 or AFCD's website (http://www.info.gov.hk/afcd). |
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