Spark Deep Dive: Hong Kong vets report more health problems for dogs, cats bought online

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.

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 writer

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 the news, name TWO activities the Consumer Council suspects most online pet sellers of doing.

3. Based on the Consumer Council’s report, how does the health and documentation of cats and dogs purchased online compare with those bought at physical pet stores? Explain using the news and glossary.

1. According to the 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 the news and glossary.

smuggling: to transport things, animals or people somewhere secretly and often illegally

mystery shopper: someone employed to test the service of a business by pretending to be a normal customer

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.

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)

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.