Hong Kong Urged to Adopt Tiered Risk Framework for Dogs After Attacks

Hong Kong should introduce a tiered risk framework and carry out DNA testing and physical checks to identify dogs with aggressive traits, a veterinarian and a lawmaker have said after a woman and two pets were mauled within a week. Preliminary inspections by authorities revealed the dog shared genetic traits with the pit bull terrier, a banned fighting breed in the city. Yet, the dog’s microchip indicated it was a mongrel. The incident sparked widespread concern about the effectiveness of the city’s dog registration system relying on self-declaration by owners, with residents questioning whether animals with aggressive traits could be identified. Veterinarian Lai Cheong-sang said Hong Kong should replace its breed-specific categorisation system with a trait-based, tiered system to classify dogs’ danger levels and assign corresponding control measures. "If a dog is suspected of having the potential to cause danger after a risk assessment, it can be required to undergo mandatory training, be leashed or otherwise constrained, and receive regular assessments," he said on a radio show. He also called for a certification system for people who keep or train high-risk breeds.