Deep Dive delves into hot issues in Hong Kong and mainland China. Our easy-to-read articles provide context to grasp what’s happening, while our questions help you craft informed responses. Check sample answers at the end of the page.
News: Hong Kong vets report higher rates of poor health for online-bought cats, dogs
Hong Kong veterinarians are reporting higher rates of poor health among online-bought cats and dogs compared with those purchased at physical stores, the Consumer Council has said.
The council suspected that nearly all the internet-based canine sellers it had checked were involved in illegal smuggling or unlicensed breeding.
In a report published earlier this month, the city’s consumer watchdog said it had conducted a study alongside the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD). The two organisations surveyed registered veterinarians and targeted 18 online platforms in a mystery shopper operation.
“The survey results found that more cats and dogs purchased online were in poor health, with a significantly higher proportion than those purchased from physical pet shops,” said Chung Chi-yung, chairman of the council’s research and testing committee.
On average, five out of every 10 dogs and 5.5 out of every 10 cats bought online and presented for veterinary care were sick or in poor condition. The rates were 3.3 for dogs and 3.9 for cats bought at physical pet shops.
The most common diseases faced by online-bought pets included upper respiratory infections, diarrhoea and the canine parvovirus.
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The study also showed that the eight most common diseases in canines were found more in dogs bought online than those purchased at stores.
The common disease prevalence rates for the former ranged from 52 to 86 per cent, compared with the latter’s range of 29 to 78 per cent.
Cats purchased online had higher rates of common feline illnesses, such as cat flu and skin infections. Feline panleukopenia, a highly contagious and potentially fatal disease, affected 61.9 per cent of online-purchased cats, compared with 31.4 per cent of those from pet shops.
The survey of veterinarians also found that more than 90 per cent of cats and dogs purchased online lacked vaccination cards. Some owners presented documents that lacked signatures from accredited professionals and were only in simplified Chinese.
Some sellers claimed their dogs had received their jabs on the mainland. They suggested customers give the animals “booster shots” in Hong Kong.
In addition, pets bought online were more unlikely to match the descriptions of ages and breeds given to their owners than those purchased at stores.
Staff writers
Question prompts
1. What did Hong Kong’s Consumer Council discover about pets bought online?
(1) They were more expensive than pets bought from physical stores.
(2) They were more aggressive than store-bought pets.
(3) They were more likely to be in poor health.
(4) They were more likely to be a different breed or age than what was advertised.
A. (1), (2) only
B. (2), (4) only
C. (1), (3) only
D. (3), (4) only
2. Using News, name TWO activities the Consumer Council suspects most online pet sellers of doing.
3. How does the health and documentation of cats and dogs purchased online compare with those bought at physical pet stores? Explain using News and Glossary.
Photo
A veterinarian makes an injection of a vaccine to a pet cat. Photo: Shutterstock
Question prompts
1. According to News, why is proper vaccination particularly important for pets purchased online?
2. What potential health risks are associated with buying a cat from an online seller? Explain using News and Glossary.
Issue: Survey finds problematic sales tactics among online pet sellers
Operation reached out to 13 social media accounts selling dogs; only one could provide documentation
None of the sellers provided contracts to ensure they would honour their promises
A recent mystery shopper operation by Hong Kong’s Consumer Council has raised suspicions that 90 per cent of online pet sellers were smuggling in animals from mainland China or operating unlicensed local breeding or trading businesses.
The operation involved reaching out to 13 social media accounts that appeared to sell dogs.
Among the sellers contacted, five claimed their dogs came from breeding farms or kennels on the mainland, with some vendors saying delivery to Hong Kong could take one to two days.
Five of the sellers identified themselves as Hong Kong-based “private breeders”. Three of the vendors claimed they had local dog breeding licences.
Among those three, only one was able to provide a “yellow paper”, or a dog breeder’s declaration – a legal document issued by the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD).
The other two gave various reasons for being unable to share the documents, such as claiming that the papers were missing or that their site was awaiting a government inspection or undergoing processing.
The five sellers claiming to offer mainland-bred dogs and the five claiming to be local private breeders were unable to provide any proof of legal origin or relevant documentation for their canines.
The report also revealed that dogs sold online generally lacked microchips. Only three of the vendors claiming to be local dog breeders said their canines were or would be microchipped.
Some of the vendors offering mainland-bred dogs falsely claimed their pets could not be microchipped before being transported to the city. Others claimed that dogs privately bred in Hong Kong were not typically microchipped.
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While 11 of the 13 sellers offered a health guarantee period, the details of the policies varied or were unclear.
None of the sellers provided contracts or justifications to ensure they would honour their promises.
The council also noted concerning sales tactics, such as only responding with voice messages, deleting photos or videos if buyers needed time to think and pressuring customers into making quick transactions by claiming demand was high.
The watchdog urged consumers to consider adopting pets, avoid buying animals of unknown origin online, and to patronise reputable licensed animal traders. Residents should also learn more about a pet’s health before buying it.
The AFCD said that pets bought online carried risks due to owners’ inability to assess the animals’ real condition and past living environment, as well as the potential promotion of unlicensed breeding and smuggling.
Staff writer
Question prompts
1. According to Issue, which of the following problems were identified by the Consumer Council regarding online dog sellers?
(1) Most sellers surveyed were suspected of smuggling or unlicensed breeding.
(2) The majority of dogs sold online were microchipped before transport.
(3) Sellers often failed to provide legal documentation proving the dogs’ origins.
(4) Most sellers were in mainland China.
A. (1), (3) only
B. (2), (4) only
C. (2), (3) only
D. (3), (4) only
2. List TWO problematic sales tactics used by online pet sellers.
3. What are the risks of buying a pet online, and what does the Consumer Council recommend doing instead? Explain using News, Issue and Glossary.
Photo
A group of animal rights supporters dressed in dog costumes gather outside Central Plaza. Photo: May Tse
Question prompts
1. What message is being conveyed in the photo?
2. To what extent do you agree that Hongkongers should adopt pets instead of buying from online pet sellers? Explain using News, Issue and your own knowledge.
Glossary
canine parvovirus: a highly contagious virus in dogs that causes severe stomach illness. It is often life-threatening, especially for puppies.
feline panleukopenia: a contagious and often fatal virus in cats. It is also known as feline distemper and affects the immune system, stomach and intestines.
microchips: small electronic devices implanted under a pet’s skin. The chip gives the animal a unique identification number. If the pet gets lost, the chip can be scanned to find the owner’s contact information.
reputable: having a good reputation; trustworthy
Online pet sellers can be very problematic, so it’s best to avoid them. Photo: Shutterstock
Sample answers
News
1. D
2. illegal smuggling and unlicensed breeding
3. According to the Consumer Council’s report, cats and dogs bought online were in significantly poorer health than those purchased from physical stores. On average, 5 out of 10 dogs and 5.5 out of 10 cats bought online were sick or in poor condition, compared to 3.3 dogs and 3.9 cats from pet shops. Additionally, over 90 per cent of online-bought pets lacked valid vaccination cards, with some documentation missing professional signatures or written only in simplified Chinese. (accept all reasonable answers)
Photo
1. Vaccination is especially important because although some sellers claim their dogs had received vaccinations on the mainland, they still advise buyers to get “booster shots” in Hong Kong. This raises concerns about whether the animals received any vaccinations in the first place or if they haven’t received them all. (accept all reasonable answers)
2. Cats bought from online sellers were more likely to suffer from serious health issues such as cat flu, skin infections, and feline panleukopenia, which is a highly contagious and potentially fatal disease. These risks are heightened due to the lack of proper vaccinations and incomplete or falsified health records provided by many online sellers.
Issue
1. A
2. Many online sellers use problematic sales tactics such as only responding with voice messages, deleting photos or videos if buyers ask for time to think and pressuring customers into making quick transactions by claiming demand is high. (accept all reasonable answers)
3. According to the AFCD, online pet purchases carry significant risks due to poor health transparency, difficulty tracing sellers, and the promotion of illegal breeding and smuggling. People are urged to avoid buying pets of unknown origin online, adopt pets from shelters, and support licensed traders.
Photo
1. The message encourages people to adopt animals instead of supporting breeders.
2. To a large extent, I agree that people should adopt pets instead of buying from breeders, especially online sellers. Many online sellers are suspected of illegal smuggling or unlicensed breeding, and animals sold this way are often in poor health, lacking proper documentation, vaccinations, and microchipping. Buying from such breeders can support unethical practices and increase the risk of adopting sick or misrepresented pets. Adoption, on the other hand, helps reduce demand for irresponsible breeding and gives animals in need a chance at a better life. (accept all reasonable answers)
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