To become a dog-friendly city, Hong Kong needs dog literacy

Since July, Hong Kong has permitted dogs in approved dining premises under a tightly regulated scheme. More than 2,200 restaurants applied, with more than 980 taking part within the first month. On the surface, these are straightforward changes to the rules around where dogs are allowed. But they reflect something more significant: a changing relationship between Hong Kong and the dogs who also call it home.

Small companion breeds are familiar in urban life, while larger dogs, local mixed breeds and strays can occupy a very different place in the public imagination. This difference matters because perceptions of dogs can shape how incidents are understood and addressed. Hong Kong is not suddenly becoming a dog-friendly city. It is beginning to work out what one might look like.

But that conversation has become more difficult after three recent incidents involving dogs. In August, a 60kg dog in Yuen Long attacked and killed two smaller dogs in separate incidents. Just a month before these incidents, the dog had been briefly detained by the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) in connection with another dog attack. Its keeper was warned the dog had to be kept under proper control.