In October 2011, the Police Force launched the Animal Watch Scheme (AWS). Members of the AWS include Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD), Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD), Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), Hong Kong Veterinary Association (HKVA), China (Hong Kong) Veterinary Association (CHKVA) and Society for Abandoned Animals (SAA). The AWS aims at combating cruelty to animals through a four-pronged approach of education, publicity, intelligence gathering and investigation.
In 2017, the College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences of the City University of Hong Kong has joined the AWS.