Authorities consider prosecution after large dog mauls 2 smaller pets to death in Yuen Long

The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) has said it may prosecute the owner of a large dog suspected of mauling two smaller pet dogs to death in separate incidents.

The Hong Kong Police Force received reports from two pet owners on Monday afternoon about the incidents in Yuen Long. Police arrived on the scene, brought the dog under control and took it away.

An online video showed a large, brown unaccompanied dog biting a Bichon Frisé and not letting go, even when bystanders tried to pull on its collar.

TVB reported that the incident took place in the Dot Park at Yoho Mall in Yuen Long. Around 20 minutes before the Bichon Frisé was attacked, a poodle was also allegedly attacked by the same canine at a public transit hub near Yoho Mall.

The dog taken away by police was around a metre in height, 1.5 metres long and 60kg in weight, TVB reported. It was wearing a collar but did not have a leash or muzzle when the two incidents took place. Police said it was transferred to the AFCD.

In response to local media, the AFCD said that, after checking, the large dog was found to have a microchip and was registered under a dog license.

Authorities are reaching out to the dog owner and said they will consider prosecution, if there is sufficient evidence.

According to the Dangerous Dogs Regulation, a dog weighing 20kg or above is considered a large dog.

A large dog is not allowed to enter or remain in public space if it is not being securely held on a leash of not more than two metres in length by a person, or if it is not being securely tied to a fixed object on a leash of not more than 1.5 metres in length.

Those in violation risk a fine of HK$25,000 and imprisonment for three months.

If a dog is declared a “known dangerous dog,” it must be desexed, muzzled and leashed in public and wear a specific, government-approved collar. A magistrate can also rule that a dog that is a public hazard be destroyed humanely.

Shek O incident

Separately, a man was attacked on Tuesday morning at a carpark in Shek O by a mongrel, local media reported.

Ming Pao reported that the 54-year-old victim sustained a bloody wound to his right lower leg and was sent to hospital. The mongrel involved was a 6-year-old male measuring about one metre in length.

When the incident took place, the dog was being walked by a domestic worker. The victim was riding a bicycle past the scene and was bitten as he stopped.

The police have transferred the dog to the AFCD.

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Irene Chan is a reporter at Hong Kong Free Press and has an interest in covering political and social change. She previously worked at Initium Media as chief editor for Hong Kong news and was a community organiser at the Society for Community Organisation serving the underprivileged. She has a bachelor’s degree in Journalism from Fudan University and a master’s degree in social work from the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

Irene is the recipient of two Society of Publishers in Asia (SOPA) awards and three honourable mentions for her investigative, feature and video reporting. She also received a Human Rights Press Award for multimedia reporting and an honourable mention for feature writing.