Hong Kong considers DNA testing amid concerns over ‘fighting dog’ classification

Hong Kong’s conservation authorities are considering genetic testing as a supplementary tool for identifying breeds, an official has said after enforcement action against suspected fighting dogs sparked public concern.The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) also said on Thursday that owners could keep existing fighting dogs, provided they complied with statutory requirements, and urged owners not to abandon their pets.Michelle Yeung Lee, the department’s principal veterinary officer, said the AFCD relied on dogs’ physical characteristics to determine whether they belonged to a fighting type.“It is the method adopted internationally, and our risk assessment focuses on dogs’ physical characteristics. If they have certain features, they are likely to cause more significant harm,” she said.She added that, despite advances in technology, genetic tests currently available were not sufficiently accurate because the reference databases used by service providers could differ.On Wednesday evening, the AFCD said it would examine the latest applications of genetic testing methods, with a view to considering their use as supplementary identification tools in the future.