Five hospitalized after August dog attacks as stray dog complaints mount

Five people were hospitalized in August after four reported dog bites and one case in which a passer-by was injured while fleeing a dog, the Public Security Police Force (PSP) said, following complaints about stray dogs in Taipa Village.

Separately, the Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM) said stray animal sightings closely coincide with areas where people improperly feed them, amid concerns raised by municipal advisory committee members.

A listener told public broadcaster TDM’s radio program in early September that stray dogs are frequently seen in Taipa Village, biting stray cats and passers-by.

IAM later confirmed it had received a report of a passer-by injured in a stray dog attack in the area and said it had sent staff to inspect the location and stepped up stray animal management. IAM singled out the area near Chun Su Mei, where residents have long fed stray animals in public places, saying the leftover food attracts growing numbers of strays and poses hygiene and safety risks to nearby residents. Since January, it has captured 33 stray dogs and one stray cat there.

The issue has returned to the agenda, with several municipal advisory committee members speaking at Tuesday’s ordinary meeting to raise concerns about stray dog management in Macau. One member proposed increasing the frequency of patrols and trapping at stray animal hot spots, reviewing the dangerous dog control regime in due course, and raising penalties for improper feeding and animal abandonment to curb the problem at its source.

Another suggested using drones and other technology to monitor the situation and collect precise data on stray dog numbers and movements to develop targeted capture and follow-up plans.

The proposals followed recent complaints from multiple residents about worsening stray dog sightings in the Islands District, including Taipa Village, Lai Chi Vun in Coloane, Hac Sa and Ka Ho. Members also suggested a three-pronged approach combining stronger enforcement, source management and public education to improve the situation.

In response, IAM president Chao Wai Ieng said his bureau is paying close attention to the issue and continues to send staff to patrol hot spots. According to him, between last year and the second quarter of this year, the bureau carried out clean-up operations at 89 locations where stray animals gather, removing four tons of leftover food left behind by feeders.

He said data shows that stray animal sightings closely coincide with areas of improper feeding. Chao added that the bureau will continue its publicity, education and enforcement work while balancing animal protection, public safety and environmental hygiene.

Notably, the authorities said at a public event recently that Macau has recorded no human or animal rabies cases for more than 40 years, with more than 3,000 dogs and cats vaccinated in the first half of this year.

Separately, PSP told TDM that four reports of dog bites and one case in which a passer-by was injured while fleeing a dog were received in August, with five people hospitalized.

Most incidents occurred around vacant government land between Avenida Olímpica and Rua da Ponte Negra, prompting officers to begin irregular patrols there from late August. The police said they will alert IAM immediately to any related situation and that, on receiving a bite report, they will contact the injured person and trace the dog involved, referring the case to the bureau whether or not the animal has an owner.

Two fatal dog attacks in recent weeks have shaken neighboring Hong Kong, according to local reports. In one case, a 27-year-old woman was riding a shared bicycle home late at night when at least three dogs followed and repeatedly attacked her.

She was found by a passer-by on the pavement in the early hours of the following morning, covered in severe bites and lacerations, with serious head and neck injuries. She was rushed to the hospital but was pronounced dead. Numerous dog paw prints were found nearby, and CCTV captured footage of her being chased by the animals. The case came about a month after another fatal dog attack in the city, which also left one person dead.