A Hong Kong man has surrendered his dog after authorities detained it and classified it as a fighting breed – the third known case in a week following a spate of attacks in the city.
The case came as animal welfare groups called for clarity on the government’s breed-classification procedures and a transparent appeal mechanism. They warned that heightened anxiety could lead to more pet abandonment and unfair stereotyping of certain breeds.
Jacqueline Cheung, founder of the non-profit Love Adopt Animal Society, told the South China Morning Post on Tuesday that she took ownership of seven-year-old Bobo the previous day after the animal’s owner relinquished her at the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD).
The original owner had taken his licensed pet to the department for vaccination last Wednesday but was later told that the dog was suspected of being a fighting breed. The animal was held until Monday and subsequently classified as a pit bull terrier crossbreed.
The owner reportedly has brain cancer and was unable to cope with the pressure of caring for Bobo. He sought help from volunteers, who eventually put him in touch with Cheung.
According to Cheung, a former veterinary nurse, Bobo was well behaved but had severe eye inflammation and was covered in ticks when she collected her from the department. The dog was also diagnosed with heartworm, which typically takes at least six months to develop after a dog is bitten by an infected mosquito.