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The COVID-19 pandemic further exacerbated the problem by creating a surge in illegal activities. Many overseas Chinese travelers returning home couldn't bring their pets due to travel restrictions. Desperate to reunite with their animals, they turned to pet immigration agents, who sometimes facilitated the animals’ journey into Hong Kong—only for many of these animals to vanish once they reached the city.
One poignant example involved a man named Jason, whose cat disappeared during transit from Australia to Shanghai over Hong Kong. His emotional account underscored the heartbreak of losing a beloved pet, highlighting the human toll behind animal trafficking.