Government Urged to Review Development of Private Animal HospiceServices - CHOICE # 444

With cruelty to animals becoming much of a public issue these days, pet lovers are faced with an equally pressing problem - the shortage of proper cremation and burial service for their beloved animals when the time comes.

Since the closure in 1999 of the Kennedy Town Abattoir, where an incinerator was provided for cremation of animal carcasses, there has been a growth in the private sector of an industry in animal hospice services in recent years.

To help alleviate concerns of pet lovers, in light of recent media reports that the operation of many of these private animal hospice services may in fact be illegal, the Consumer Council has compiled a step-by-step checklist for consumers in the purchase and use of such services.

Also covered in the study is a look at the public animal cremation and related services provided in a number of countries such as Taiwan, Japan, USA, Canada and Australia.

In general, private animal hospice service providers offer carcass collection, storage, cleaning and cremation services. Also available on rental are "ashes storage cabinets" on a yearly basis to give your beloved pet a resting place.

Consumers are advised, first and foremost, to check whether the use of the premises for running the service is in compliance with the terms and conditions of the land grant. Copies of the land grant are obtainable from the Land Registry, and if necessary, consumers should consider seeking professional advice.

Consumers should also check with various government departments to ascertain if the service provider has any record of breaching relevant legislations on fire safety, environmental protection, public hygiene, etc.

Should they decide to use a private animal hospice service, they should pay attention to the terms and conditions of the contract and, for additional safeguard, request to incorporate terms of arrangements for refund or compensation should it turn out later that the rental service being subscribed cannot be fulfilled.

At present, in the absence of public animal hospice services in Hong Kong, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department will collect the animal carcasses delivered to its refuse collection points. Animal carcasses will be disposed of at landfills.

Consumers are reminded that it is an offence to scatter cremated pet ashes in public places or in Hong Kong waters or in any place from where it is likely that the litter will be swept by the tide into the waters of Hong Kong. Offenders are liable to fine and/or imprisonment.

According to government statistics in 2010, some 10% or 250,000 of Hong Kong's households keep cats or dogs as pet. The demand for animal hospice services in cremation and ashes handling facilities is inevitably getting more and more.

To forestall the situation from worsening, the Government is urged to proactively review whether the current land use planning and other legislations and regulations can take into consideration the development of private animal hospice services in Hong Kong.