Dog that fatally mauled handler at Hong Kong pet centre a stray awaiting adoption

Pawsgate in Ta Kwu Ling closed on Friday after death of owner, but residents not alarmed, saying dogs were always kept indoors at training facility

A dog that fatally mauled its handler at a Hong Kong pet training facility was a stray awaiting adoption, the South China Morning Post has learned, with residents living nearby saying they were not worried as the animals at the centre were kept indoors.

According to a source familiar with the facility, the dog involved in the attack on Wong Choi-yi, the 33-year-old owner of the training centre and pet hotel, is one year and four months old. It is a brown mixed-breed weighing 30kg, which could have pit bull ancestry – a type banned from import and breeding in Hong Kong.

The dog was a stray that had previously been cared for at a car park on Lok Ma Chau Road, but was left without a home when the site closed in April.

It was taken in by a dog volunteer and a shelter, before being transferred to Wong’s pet training centre on August 11 and put up for adoption.

Police earlier identified the centre as Pawsgate, a pet facility located at 111 Ping Yeung Tsuen with a 4,500 sq ft grass lawn, a dog swimming pool, indoor play areas and dog boarding and training services.