Surge in abandoned animals amid land clearance for Northern Metropolis development

Three-legged dogs and one-eyed cats are common sights at a veterinary clinic opened by an animal welfare group in the Fo Tan area of Hong Kong’s Sha Tin district, with some of these animals having been there for so long that the medical centre has become their home.While their injuries or illnesses vary, they share the same painful experience of being displaced by the Northern Metropolis development project, a government blueprint to transform 30,000 hectares (74,132 acres) into a powerful engine for economic growth and a major housing hub.The sweeping land resumption driven by the mega plan in the New Territories has triggered a growing animal welfare crisis, as many residents and business operators abandon their animals ahead of government clearance deadlines.