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Saturday, Feb 22, 2025
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Pets get run at 60 more parks
More than 60 government-run parks will welcome pets starting from Thursday, bringing the total number of pet-inclusive venues to over 100.
The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced yesterday that more venues at promenades and parks, such as the Central Pier Waterfront and the Sun Yat Sen Memorial Park, will be turned into pet-friendly parks under the inclusive parks for pets scheme.
To enable park visitors and pet animals to use park facilities together in an inclusive environment, the LCSD launched an "inclusive park for pets" trial scheme by opening six parks for use by pets in 2019.
As the trial scheme was a success, it regularized the arrangement by providing more "inclusive parks for pets" in various districts starting from last February 6.
"The concept of inclusive parks is to open existing parks to the public to bring their pets with them. In selecting a suitable site to be an inclusive park for pets, the department will take into account various conditions, including public demand, site size, location, supporting facilities and usage," a LCSD spokesman said.
The LSCD will provide additional basic facilities such as dog poo collection boxes and hand-washing facilities to facilitate use of parks by pets.
The public are required to observe the guidelines set out by the LCSD when entering the inclusive parks for pets, including keeping them on leashes and under proper supervision so as not to cause nuisance to others, cleaning up after pets and keeping the park clean and tidy.
As for those concerned about whether pets will be taken away or culled if they get Covid, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department issued a statement yesterday saying that barring a small number of animals such as minks and hamsters, there is currently no evidence showing that infected animals such as cats and dogs will transmit the virus to humans.
That came after authorities recently revised the law to require pet owners to hand over their pets if they test positive for Covid.
The spokesman said chances of animal-to-human Covid transmission are very low and it is unlikely authorities will exercise the relevant powers.
For mammals whose owners are confirmed positive or become close contacts requiring hospital treatment or isolation at a quarantine center, if there is no evidence that the animals can transmit the virus to humans, AFCD will send the pets to New Territories South Animal Management Center.
The pets will be returned to owners after they test negative.
To enable park visitors and pet animals to use park facilities together in an inclusive environment, the LCSD launched an "inclusive park for pets" trial scheme by opening six parks for use by pets in 2019.
As the trial scheme was a success, it regularized the arrangement by providing more "inclusive parks for pets" in various districts starting from last February 6.
"The concept of inclusive parks is to open existing parks to the public to bring their pets with them. In selecting a suitable site to be an inclusive park for pets, the department will take into account various conditions, including public demand, site size, location, supporting facilities and usage," a LCSD spokesman said.
The LSCD will provide additional basic facilities such as dog poo collection boxes and hand-washing facilities to facilitate use of parks by pets.
The public are required to observe the guidelines set out by the LCSD when entering the inclusive parks for pets, including keeping them on leashes and under proper supervision so as not to cause nuisance to others, cleaning up after pets and keeping the park clean and tidy.
As for those concerned about whether pets will be taken away or culled if they get Covid, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department issued a statement yesterday saying that barring a small number of animals such as minks and hamsters, there is currently no evidence showing that infected animals such as cats and dogs will transmit the virus to humans.
That came after authorities recently revised the law to require pet owners to hand over their pets if they test positive for Covid.
The spokesman said chances of animal-to-human Covid transmission are very low and it is unlikely authorities will exercise the relevant powers.
For mammals whose owners are confirmed positive or become close contacts requiring hospital treatment or isolation at a quarantine center, if there is no evidence that the animals can transmit the virus to humans, AFCD will send the pets to New Territories South Animal Management Center.
The pets will be returned to owners after they test negative.
