The Force-wide Animal Watchers Programme has been launched, officers of the Regional Crime Prevention Office of New Territories South (RCPO NTS) conducted community visits to promote the Programme and recruit Animal Captains and Animal Watchers. On November 28, 2020, the officers held a sharing session at a secondary school in Ma On Shan to introduce the Programme to students who were interested in joining the school’s pet club.

During the sharing session, RCPO NTS officers outlined different animal-related cases and discussed the relevant animal protection laws with the participants. The officers described how the Police collaborated with organisations such as the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department and the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals to handle cases of cruelty to animals. Furthermore, the officers also promoted the Animal Watchers Programme and encouraged students to report to the Police any news about cruelty to animals.

After the sharing session, police volunteers and NTS members of the Animal Watchers Programme brought along three volunteer dogs to interact with the students. They taught students how to take care of dogs and stressed the responsibilities of pet owners. The students also had a chance to take the dogs for a walk to experience how to take care of them.

A student learns how to take care of a dog.