Hong Kong police arrest woman, 57, over animal cruelty after 2 cats die from fall at public housing estate
- Police arrest woman about 13 hours after two dead felines discovered outside Lok Wong House in Tsz Wan Shan on Wednesday morning
- Incident latest in string of suspected animal abuse cases, including death of nine-year-old Yorkshire terrier due to severe head injury
Hong Kong police have arrested a 57-year-old woman on suspicion of animal cruelty, 13 hours after two cats fell to their deaths from a block at a public housing estate.
A security guard at about 6am on Wednesday told officers the felines had been found dead outside Lok Wong House, part of Tsz Lok Estate, near Sheung Fung Street in Tsz Wan Shan, the force on Thursday said.
An initial investigation found the two cats had fallen from a height, police added.
Officers on Wednesday night arrested the woman when she surrendered herself to police at Wong Tai Sin station. She was detained for animal cruelty, punishable by up to three years in jail and a HK$200,000 (US$25,535) fine.
A source familiar with the case said the suspect claimed she forgot to lock the grille and close the window after collecting clothes from a drying rack.
The woman, a hospital assistant, was granted bail, pending further investigation, and must report to police later this month.
Hong Kong last month witnessed a string of animal cruelty cases, including the death of a nine-year-old Yorkshire terrier on May 8, a week after undergoing an operation to remove 18 fragments in its skull. The dog was believed to have been brutally abused.
Police are searching for the boyfriend of the pet owner’s mother in connection with the case. The Post earlier learned the man had left Hong Kong.
A day after the dog’s death, officers arrested a Greek woman over a separate case of alleged animal cruelty after her 10-month-old Maltese died.
A 22-year-old man was arrested on May 3 on suspicion of ill-treating his husky in another case. The incident came to light after an online video showed someone briefly attempting to strangle the dog using the flap of a metal cage as the animal hung its head outside the container through an opening.
Police on May 17 also arrested a 66-year-old man for allegedly breaking a wild pigeon’s wings, after the bird was discovered at a public housing estate in Tseung Kwan O.
According to the force, the man was believed to be the same man featured in a video showing the suspected ill-treatment of another pigeon at the same estate a day before.
The pigeons could have caused a nuisance and hygiene problems at King Lam Estate, leading the suspect to commit the alleged abuse, police said at the time.
