“Trap-Neuter-Return” Trial Programme for Stray Dogs

Background

The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) has a statutory responsibility to manage the stray dog population to prevent rabies outbreaks, reduce nuisance caused by stray dogs, and safeguard public health and safety in Hong Kong.

The most effective way to reduce the stray dog population is to reduce stray dogs at source.  In this connection, AFCD runs a continuous education and publicity programme to promote responsible pet ownership. It urges members of the public to refrain from the impulsive purchase of pet animals, and also to have a lifelong commitment to their pets by taking care of them properly, keeping them under proper control and not abandoning them. In order to reduce unwanted puppies, AFCD also encourages dog owners to neuter their dogs and has been providing free de-sexing services to dogs adopted through AFCD’s partnering Animal Welfare Organisations (AWOs).  For stray dogs caught in response to complaints, AFCD endeavours to re-unite them with their owners. For unowned stray dogs, AFCD will rehome them via AFCD’s partnering AWOs if they are healthy and have good temperament. As a last resort, stray dogs that could not be rehomed may be euthanised by administering an overdose of anaesthetic.  

In recent years, some AWOs have advocated the “Trap-Neuter-Return” (TNR) concept.  Under the TNR programme, stray dogs are caught, neutered, vaccinated against rabies and returned to their original habitat. Proponents believe that, through TNR, the stray dog population will gradually decline without resorting to euthanasia.  Besides, as neutered dogs are normally less aggressive, nuisance caused by dogs fighting should also subside.

In order to assess the effectiveness of TNR in reducing the stray dog population and associated complaints, AFCD has assisted two AWOs to implement a 3-year TNR trial programme for stray dogs in two designated trial sites, namely Cheung Chau and Tai Tong of Yuen Long, from January 2015 onwards. As the Programme Coordinators (PCs), the two AWOs were required to manage the programme under an agreed protocol.  Since the implementation of the TNR programme is incompatible with certain provisions of existing legislation, exemption from relevant provisions of the Rabies Ordinance (Cap. 421) and the Dogs and Cats Ordinance (Cap. 167) has been granted to PCs and their carers at the trial sites.

Findings

To monitor the progress and assess the effectiveness of the programme during the 3-year trial period, AFCD has commissioned an independent consultant to conduct data analysis.  Following the end of trial period, evaluation has been conducted by the consultant and the result has been presented to the LegCo Panel on Food Safety and Environmental Hygiene in May 2018. For more details, please refer to the Panel Paper.

Way Forward

Although the previous trial programmes did not meet the original performance targets, it was agreed that the two PCs shall continue monitoring the TNR dogs and the population change within the trial sites in the coming years.  Considering the effectiveness of TNR might vary from one site to another, AFCD has sent out a letter to different AWOs to invite proposals for new TNR trial programmes at other locations. AFCD has updated the TNR Protocol for new TNR programmes and all proposals will be assessed for suitability.

 

July 2019