Ta Kwu Ling Dog Attack: Family and Friends Mourn ‘Kind-Hearted’ Victim Who Dedicated Herself to Stray Dogs

A tragic dog attack at a licensed animal boarding facility in Ta Kwu Ling has claimed the life of its 33‑year‑old female operator, who was attacked by a 30‑kg mixed-breed dog on Thursday (August 20).

About 20 family members and friends arrived at the Fu Shan Public Mortuary on Friday morning (August 21) to pay their final respects, their grief palpable. The victim, Jojo Wong, was unmarried and ran the “Pawsgate” pet hotel and canine training centre. Friends remembered her as “a huge dog lover” who devoted herself to helping stray dogs. “She was beautiful and kind‑hearted,” one friend said. Online, netizens expressed their condolences, with many describing her as “beautiful inside and out” and hoping she would rest in peace.

The victim, Jojo Wong, was the operator of a licensed pet boarding facility and canine training centre in Ta Kwu Ling. She was unmarried. Friends described her as “beautiful and kind-hearted” and “a huge dog lover” who frequently volunteered to help stray dogs.

The victim, Jojo Wong, Photo source: FB image

The attack occurred on Thursday afternoon at Pawsgate Pet Limited, a licensed animal boarding facility registered with the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department. The premises, located at No. 111 Ping Yeung Tsuen, Ta Kwu Ling, cover approximately 10,000 square feet and include an office, a kennel with 12 dog cages, and a lawn. The facility opened in January this year and was operated by Jojo Wong and a 41-year-old male partner, who also worked as a dog trainer.

Police investigations, based on CCTV footage, showed that at around 2 pm on the day of the incident, Jojo Wong walked from the office to the lawn. At 2:06 pm, she attempted to place the dog in its cage, but the dog refused and became aggressive. Jojo Wong fell to the ground, and the dog attacked her. The footage showed both leaving the kennel together before Jojo Wong collapsed on the lawn. Her partner discovered her on CCTV at approximately 3:50 pm.

Pawsgate Pet Limited, Photo source: online image

Police and ambulance crew arrived at the scene to find Jojo Wong with multiple lacerations to her scalp, neck, and left shoulder, as well as three puncture wounds and one laceration on her left forearm, and puncture and laceration wounds to the back of her neck, injuries consistent with a dog attack. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Police believe she died from injuries sustained in the dog attack, but the exact cause of death will be determined by a forensic autopsy.

The Hong Kong Police Force, Photo source: reference image

The dog involved, a one-year-four-month-old male mixed-breed dog weighing about 30 kilograms, had been microchipped but was not neutered.

The dog had originally been cared for by a car park on Lok Ma Chau Road. After the car park closed in April, it was temporarily looked after by a 33-year-old dog volunteer surnamed Lee and a kennel. On August 11, the volunteer brought the dog to Pawsgate to await adoption.

The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, Photo source: reference image

The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department said the dog had no prior record of attacking or biting people. It has been taken away for observation, while the other dogs at the facility have been returned to their owners.

Following the news of the tragedy, relatives, friends and netizens paid tribute to Jojo Wong, with many describing her as “beautiful inside and out.” Others voiced concern for the approximately 200 dogs still at Pawsgate, calling on animal lovers to help with adoptions or support the facility’s continued operation.

Red tides sighted

Two red tides were sighted during the past week, the Inter-departmental Red Tide Working Group reported today (August 21).

On August 18, staff of the Environmental Protection Department spotted two red tides at Repulse Bay Beach and Deep Water Bay Beach, Hong Kong Island, respectively. Both red tides have dissipated and no associated fish deaths have been reported as of today.

A spokesman for the working group said, "Both red tides were formed by Phaeocystis globosa, which is commonly found in Hong Kong waters. According to literature overseas, the algal species can produce foam that may affect fish."

The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) urged mariculturists at the Lo Tik Wan, Sok Kwu Wan and Po Toi fish culture zones to monitor the situation closely and increase aeration where necessary.

Red tide is a natural phenomenon. The AFCD's proactive phytoplankton monitoring programme will continue to monitor red tide occurrences to minimise the impact on the mariculture industry and the public.

Source: AI-found images