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A pedestrian walks past a closed pet shop which sells hamsters in Hong Kong. Alamy Stock Photo

Hong Kong warns animal lovers not to obstruct hamster cull

The cull was approved after a number of hamsters in a pet shop tested positive for Covid-19.

HONG KONG’S GOVERNMENT has warned local animal lovers not to obstruct its ongoing cull of small animals, a policy triggered when hamsters in a pet shop tested positive for the coronavirus.

The Chinese city adheres to the mainland’s strict “zero-Covid” policy, in which even the slightest sign of the virus is stamped out with contact tracing, targeted lockdowns and long quarantines.

The discovery of Covid-positive imported hamsters in the Little Boss pet store saw roughly 2,000 small pet shop mammals – mostly hamsters, but also rabbits, chinchillas and guinea pigs – culled as a “precautionary measure”, with owners urged to surrender pets purchased after 22 December.

But the policy has sparked a backlash, with animal lovers stationing themselves outside the government-run hamster collection facility to dissuade owners from giving up their pets – a move the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department has condemned.

“The AFCD demands them to stop such action immediately and return the hamsters taken away,” it said in a statement, adding that police had been notified of the hamster obstructionists.

By late Thursday, the facility said it had received 68 hamsters.

Local TV news showed a police van parked outside the collection facility.

people-stand-in-front-of-a-temporarily-closed-pet-shop-after-the-government-announced-to-euthanize-around-2000-hamsters-in-the-city-after-finding-evidence-for-the-first-time-of-possible-animal-to-hum The Little Boss pet shop, where around 2,000 small mammals were culled as "a precautionary measure". Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

There is currently no penalty for pet owners who withhold hamsters purchased after 22 December, but health officials have said Hong Kong has legal mechanisms for enforcing a mandatory surrender.

They also warned of the “increased likelihood” of animal-to-human virus transmission, after finding more Covid-positive cases linked to other local pet shops.

The city’s top microbiologist and government adviser on Covid said the mass cull was needed to “avert disaster”.

“We have reason to believe the source was the warehouse containing more than 1,000 hamsters in close proximity. The virus could multiply via cross-infection and spread to pet shops and other retail outlets,” Yuen Kwok-yung wrote in an article Wednesday.

He added that virus samples found in the pet warehouse resembled the “non-local European Delta variant” – which is now rare in Hong Kong.

Covid-related animal culling remains rare.

Last year, Denmark was criticised for its decision to cull all 15 million of its mink population after some were found to carry a mutated virus variant.

The risk of animal-to-human transmission “remains low”, a World Health Organization official said earlier this week, but is a possibility.

© – AFP, 2022.

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    Mute Mark Gerard Lochlain
    Favourite Mark Gerard Lochlain
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    Jun 27th 2015, 8:24 AM

    Awww such a pity!!!! I actually only saw the shop for the first time a few weeks back in Powerscourt and thought I’d bring my nieces there someday!!! It looked lovely all the best.

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    Mute Tallaght two
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    Jun 27th 2015, 10:16 AM

    this is more a salient lesson on being careful where you move your business and unfortunately is not a good advert for powerscourt. hopefully they make a go off it online. the demand definitely exists it the location didn’t support them.

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    Mute Mark Fran
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    Jul 5th 2016, 10:23 PM

    Life is all about good and bad experience
    Life is all about good and bad experience. It was all good and lovely when i met jully, she was a good business woman until things become rough for her and her business empire started liquidating. I was a very courageous and hardworking man so i decided to sell my inheritance to assist . We both struggle together and built the business world again. This time around the business was growing from strength to strength. I was surprise one Sunday evening when she came home with her secretary and told me that we cannot continue with this pretense called love. I was shocked and heart broken, i was in a friend, house for three weeks frustrated until i met fernando my old friend at the supermarket, he directed to me to Dr saka. I contacted saka and he told me that Jully was been manipulated by some spiritual power and he told me to provide some items which he is going to use to destroy the evil spirit. I never believe in voodoo but i had to give him a trial. To my greatest surprise, Jully called and started apologizing 2 days after i sent Dr. Saka the email. I am very happy and will continue to be happy for the good work the Saka has done in my life. Problems are been solved when good people like Saka are on this planet, please contact him through ultimatespearcast@gmail.com if you need any support in any problems in life. I love Dr Saka … :)

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    Mute Chauncey Gardiner
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    Jun 27th 2015, 8:39 AM

    Such a shame! You can’t cuddle a smartphone kids!

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    Mute David McShite
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    Jun 27th 2015, 9:15 AM

    It’s so strange. We all read the most terrible of news stories every day, we are seldom surprised or shocked to any great extent as terrible things in the world have become the norm.
    But this little story just came in under the radar and made our inner child shed a tear.
    I hope they find a way to continue.

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    Mute Aaron Burns
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    Jun 27th 2015, 8:26 AM

    This is an awful shame, but I guess in this day and age people would just go out and buy a new doll/ teddy rather than get it repaired.

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    Mute Evelyn Hughes
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    Jun 27th 2015, 11:47 AM

    U can’t buy a new best friend

    46
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    Mute Anya
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    Jun 27th 2015, 9:08 AM

    Have had my teddy since I was born (am 28 now) and he was quite battered so I brought him here. They did a great job at fixing him and I’m eternally grateful, I’d have been devastated to lose my bear. Such a shame they have to close the doors :(

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    Mute Dave
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    Jun 27th 2015, 8:50 AM

    Had my 36 year old teddy fixed there so that my son could have it. They did a great job. Such a shame they’re closing, but that’s the way of the world now. Easier to throw away and buy a new one.

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    Mute Malvolio32
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    Jun 27th 2015, 8:47 AM

    You have to love that sign, wonder is it original, or based on something else?

    61
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    Mute Melissa Porter Nolan
    Favourite Melissa Porter Nolan
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    Jun 27th 2015, 1:34 PM

    Yes it’s original, designed & made by James Hankey, Tallaght, Dublin. It’s stood the test of time. It was out doors for almost 30 years. I still love still.

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    Mute Bobby Connolly
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    Jul 6th 2015, 9:51 PM

    Melissa, Robert and Lu here. Just caught the article on the Journal about the shop closure. So sorry to hear that and we hope the online business goes really well for ye though I guess nothing makes up for the day to day involvement in the shop. Best wishes for the future.

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    Mute Mel Healy
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    Jun 27th 2015, 9:01 AM

    A sad end. Teddybear Varadker should be ashamed of himself.

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    Mute Karen NíDhochartaigh
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    Jun 27th 2015, 9:21 AM

    devastated I only recently discovered the place and wanted to bring in my first ever teddy so I could then pass it to my little girl :’(

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    Mute Alan Lawlor
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    Jun 27th 2015, 10:10 AM

    Those damn HSE budget cuts are hitting everywhere

    44
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    Mute Malvolio32
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    Jun 27th 2015, 9:24 AM

    Am I the only one here who never remembers having a teddy bear, I had a little shovel I brought everywhere?

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    Mute Charlie Mountney
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    Jun 27th 2015, 9:39 AM

    So you didn’t forget your shovel Malvolio?

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    Mute willow
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    Jun 27th 2015, 3:32 PM

    First Clerys and now The Dolls Hospital. Dublin is definitely changing and not for the best. Loved that Dolls hosp…..

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    Mute Alison Sutcliffe
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    Jun 27th 2015, 12:04 PM

    Such a huge part off Dublin history closing. Knowing the hospital was there for my teddies as a child growing up was a big thing for me and for my children now. We have visited the hospital and had teddies restored over the years. Such sad news to hear you are closing. like to thank you for all the care and love you gave to dolls and teddies that where each and every child’s pride and joy and much loved toys over the years.

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    Mute Maximus
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    Jun 27th 2015, 4:17 PM

    This is what should be on Grafton Street (rent free of course

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    Mute SnowCailín
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    Jun 27th 2015, 2:26 PM

    Does any business do well on top floor of shopping centre. This one seems like it could be a really good online business – and could possibly attract custom from abroad. I really hope it tries online as a way to survive – it’s a national treasure for a few generations!

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    Mute Terri O'Gorman McCormick
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    Jun 27th 2015, 4:20 PM

    Where are the dollies and teddys gonna go now. So sad!! Just another little bit of magic gone!!!

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    Mute Melissa Porter Nolan
    Favourite Melissa Porter Nolan
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    Jul 18th 2015, 11:24 AM

    They have all been packed up with lots of TLC & some sadness. I have kept the collection together in the hope someone or some place will have a suitable home to display them again once and for all. Melissa

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    Mute Ciaran De Bhal
    Favourite Ciaran De Bhal
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    Jun 27th 2015, 10:55 AM

    I can remember the shop in Mary St. No. 5 or 6 maybe? My Dad had a dancewear shop in No.3. I used to love going in to the dolls hospital on Saturdays.

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    Mute Wyon Stansfeld
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    Jun 27th 2015, 3:11 PM

    Very sorry to hear that Dublin can not even support one decent toy shop, all the best for the future Melissa

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    Mute Michael Sands
    Favourite Michael Sands
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    Jun 27th 2015, 8:06 PM

    Loads of jobs are still going but no one says a word unless the government promises new jobs that are coming years down the road but never arrive…

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