Whether we are pet owners or not, we are surrounded by animals and animal products. Hong Kong is a small territory, but the density of its population means that a large number of animals live with and around us.
The numbers below illustrate how big of a challenge the SPCA faces in its quest to improve animal welfare.

In 2009, some 4,600 live pigs, 78 live cattle and 22,000 live chickens were slaughtered everyday. This figure does not include imported frozen or chilled meat from overseas.

In a thematic survey conducted by the Census and Statistics Department in 2005, it was estimated that 286,300 households (12% of all households) in Hong Kong had some 524,800 pets. Of which, 197,900 (37.7%) were dogs, 99,200 (18.9%) were cats, and another 98,300 (18.7%) were turtles and tortoises.

The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) handles between 5,000- 7,000 stray dogs annually. In 2011, the department handled 5,800 stray dogs and 3,557 stray cats; 852 dogs and 205 cats were re-homed through animal welfare organisations. A majority of stray animals are put down if homes cannot be found for them.

Some fifty million animals, including an estimated two million dogs and cats, are subject to unnecessary cruelty by the fur trade. Hong Kong is the centre of this trade, being the largest exporter of furs in the world. Many furriers have set up production and manufacturing facilities in China due to higher production as well as stricter environmental rules in Hong Kong. Hong Kong functions mainly as a re-export hub where furs from overseas are moved on to China. 93% of Hong Kong’s fur skin exports to China are for manufacturing and production. During the first half of 2010 the Hong Kong Trade and Development Council reported that fur-related exports from Hong Kong increased by over 20%.

Learn more about fur farms on our Fur Trade page.

In 2003, Hong Kong was one of the world’s largest importers of leather skins, second only to the United States. Hong Kong remains a major hub for re-exporting leather products from the Mainland. Footwear makes up 70% of leather exports, with the US and European Union being its two largest markets.