“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, including conducting reasonable enquiries and checking lost-animal records in accordance with statutory procedures. Healthy animals with a good temperament will be referred to AFCD’s partnering AWOs for neutering and adoption arrangements. To safeguard public safety, the Department does not release unowned dogs back into the community.

The “Trap-Neuter-Return” (TNR) concept involves catching stray dogs, neutering them, and then returning them to their original habitat. 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 TNR trial programme in two trial sites from 2015 to 2018. AFCD was responsible for monitoring and handling related complaints and commissioning an independent consultant to conduct investigation and analysis. However, the programme has not achieved the performance target of reducing the number of stray dogs 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 programme coordinators shall continue monitoring the TNR dogs and the population change within the trial sites in the coming years.

AFCD currently has no plan to implement a TNR programme. The Department will continue to manage stray dogs using its existing multi-pronged approach, in line with international standards set by the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH). This includes promoting responsible pet ownership and proper animal care through publicity and education, and collaborating with AWOs to promote neutering and adoption.

 

September 2026