The Force attaches great importance to animal welfare and strives to combat all acts of cruelty to animals. In October 2011, the Force launched the Animal Watch Scheme (AWS). Members include Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Hong Kong), veterinary associations, the College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences of the City University of Hong Kong and animal concern groups. The AWS aims at combating acts of cruelty to animals through a four-pronged approach of education, publicity, intelligence gathering and investigation.

To enlist wider public support and participation in fighting against cruelty to animals, the Force is actively implementing the Animal Watchers Programme (AWP) to pool together the efforts of animal lovers at the community level through the four-pronged approach, raise public awareness on prevention of cruelty to animals, encourage the public to report in a timely manner and provide information that could assist investigation. Participants of the AWP may, through planning and participating in various events promoting animal welfare, disseminate messages on caring for animals and prevention of cruelty to animals to the community.