今日我們向衛生署遞交市民的意願！
我們上星期四 (13/2)發起聯署，要求署方讓主人在隔離期間，自行選擇如何安置其伴侶動物，現時聯署人數已達到18,221人，促請署方重新考慮動物隔離政策！
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香港衛生署署長 陳漢儀醫生：
促請衛生署重新考慮動物隔離政策
CODV-19肆虐香港，被隔離的人數與日俱增。根據署方的現時規定 ，如確診患者或與其密切接觸者的處所中有貓狗等哺乳類動物，有關動物將送往港珠澳大橋口岸動物居留所，但在所有有關的官方網頁中，都未有顯示該中心資料，即是Google search也完全找不到該中心任何資料。整個操作缺乏透明度，動物主人對此政策表示極度擔憂。
世界衛生組織、國家衛生健康委員會專家組成員及國際獸醫組織 WSAVA曾表示，現時並沒有任何證據顯示，貓狗等伴侶動物有感染CODV-19的情況出現，而多位獸醫專家亦指出，新型冠狀病毒屬於beta類，以宿主特異性來說，貓和狗都沒有被beta類冠狀病毒感染的案例。因此，儘管與病患同住，該動物亦沒有對公眾健康構成風險，強行把沒有感染機會的動物送往漁護處隔離，實沒有必要。 而且，與主人分離的過程會令動物受不必要的驚嚇，這絕對有違動物福利。
雖然疫情下人心惶惶，但我們必須回歸理性 --- 貓狗等伴侶動物並沒有對公眾健康構成風險。我們上星期四 (13/2)發起聯署，要求署方讓主人在隔離期間，自行選擇如何安置其伴侶動物，現時聯署人數已達到18,221人，促請署方重新考慮動物隔離政策。
Urge Department of Health to Reconsider Animal Quarantine Policy
While Hong Kong is being plagued by CODV-19, the number of people being quarantined is continually rising. According to the current regulations of the Department, all mammals kept by any person of a confirmed case or by his/her close contacts will be detained in an animal pound located at the HZMB Hong Kong Port. However, information about such facility is neither found on the Department’s website nor from public Google search. The total opacity of the operation extremely worried owners of home animals.
The WHO, members of the National Health Commission, and WSAVA (the Global Veterinary Community) all indicated there is no evidence that companion animals like cats and dogs are being contracted CODV-19. Many veterinarian experts also pointed out that the novel coronavirus belongs to the beta category; and there has been no known cases of dogs or cats contracting beta viruses. Therefore, despite cohabiting with human, these animals do not pose any public health risk. Separating these animals for quarantine is crossly unnecessary. The animals will suffer from anxiety during the process and the separation which is against the principles of animal welfare.
We need to combat public panic with rationality – Companion animals like dogs and cats do not pose public health risks. We launched a petition last Thursday (13 February) appealing to the Department to allow persons being quarantined to arrange, with their own accord, suitable accommodation for their companion animals during the person’s quarantine. To date, 18,221 people have supported the petition, urging the Department to reconsider the animal quarantine policy.
十八區動物保護專員
非牟利獸醫服務協會
香港野豬關注組
豚聚一家
香港摺耳貓病友會
尊善會
救救港豬
Fur Free HK
PETA亞洲善待動物組織
立法會議員毛孟靜
立法會議員鄺俊宇
立法會議員譚文豪
立法會議員陳志全
立法會議員鄭松泰
區議員楊雪盈
眾聯署人
日期：二零二零年二月十八日
