Today's story isn't really mine, but I want to share it because it underlines the frustration of having to negotiate the hypocritical rules that seem to apply randomly when it comes to dogs and illegal breeders.
Around midday I got a message from Catherine of Catherine's Puppies, about a large number of poodles that were in the middle of a field somewhere in Yuen Long, an area I think of as bandit country as it's still quite remote and with most of the illegal breeders operating out of there. The dogs were under a flimsy tent-like covering, and while Catherine and a local volunteer were trying to work out what was happening and what to do about it, I suggested that they call the police.
You can see all the photos and story on the Catherine's Puppies Facebook page so I won't duplicate here, but what's really heartbreaking and frustrating was the initial lack of interest from AFCD when we contacted them to go to the site, saying there was nothing they could do as the dogs were all legally registered. How did they know that? And in any case it turned out not to be true, as several weren't microchipped or licensed. Anyway, eventually the police were called, but not before the "owner" of the dogs had already left with the female poodles, and the police called AFCD who in turn called SPCA.
SPCA arrived at around 11pm and said there was nothing they could do as there was no cruelty involved (Catherine herself had fed the dogs, something she was apparently not supposed to have done), and when AFCD finally turned up they took six poodles who had no microchip while the rest of the dogs were released to the "owner".
Look at the photos and tell me that there's nothing illicit or abnormal going on here, and that this is perfectly acceptable situation. Then you will understand the frustration of trying to do anything, and why I long ago gave up on ever reporting anything to AFCD or anyone else, or asking for their help.
What a sad state of affairs! It sucks! The poor dogs!
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