Email from Lo So Shing:

"In short, we have a massive dog issue on the Lo So Shing beach. Has been like this for a while. There are maybe 25-30 homeless dogs now. Some are friendly, some are not, but all have attacked or have been positioned to attack the people walking along the beach (especially at night or feeding time).

So, that is the old issue (well, an expanding old issue). And one that won't go away, because the government is afraid to do anything about these dogs.

The other issue is trash. A lot of it. Washed up onshore from our friends on the rafts in the harbor. And this problem is only getting worse, too. I have never seen so much trash on one beach before.

In the past, the government and private people cleaned it up. Now, as of a couple days ago, the government said they would no longer pick it up.

The reason: The dogs. They said they don't want to put their workers in danger of being attacked by the dogs.

What is wrong with this picture?

Can you think of a way to help us Southies?"

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The problem could be rectified.

The AFCD and Government could allow volunteers to TNR (Trap, Neuter, Release) all the feral dogs, and monitor the colonies, for research purposes as well as for humane purposes. The TNR has worked for cats.

District Councillors and our very own Yui Lai Fan has dismissed the idea. It's not going to happen. So now abandoned dogs and their offsprings are proliferating. And there is only so much that volunteer villagers can do with time and rescources, to change this situation.

And if you try to help by befriending the dogs, and paying out of your own pocket to have the dogs microchipped, inoculated, and set up in a feeding colony,.....

then you will be prosecuted!!!

Frustrating situation. People try their best, then get knocked down at every turn from the local councils including our own.