Hong Kong boy, 14, held over cat death
AM730 · 2 SOURCESabout 1 hour ago2 MIN
Summary
A 14-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of animal cruelty after he brought a badly injured cat to a veterinary clinic in Cheung Sha Wan on August 10, and the animal later died.
Police said they received a report at 6.25pm from an employee of a clinic at 124-126 Castle Peak Road, identified as Pets R Us Veterinary Medical Centre, after staff suspected the cat had been improperly treated
Key Points
- Police said officers went to the clinic after the report and arrested the 14-year-old boy on suspicion of animal cruelty
- According to local reports, the cat belonged to the boy’s classmate, who had left Hong Kong temporarily and asked him to care for it for one month
- The boy allegedly slapped and kicked the cat earlier that day at his home in Lei Cheng Uk Estate before taking it for treatment that evening
- Staff at Cheung Sha Wan’s veterinary centre said the eight-month-old black-and-white American shorthair had blood around its mouth and nose, dilated pupils, and no breathing or heartbeat
- A report said the cat had a loose cable tie around its neck, while accounts given about how it was injured were inconsistent
Why It Matters
The case is being handled by the Sham Shui Po district crime squad, indicating a formal criminal investigation rather than only a welfare referral.
Under Hong Kong’s Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Ordinance, animal cruelty carries a maximum penalty on summary conviction of a HK$200,000 fine and three years’ imprisonment