The police yesterday (18th) received a report from a man who found a Tang dog that his neighbor kept in a tin house in Xiashanji B, Taguling, dead and suspected that it had been treated inappropriately.
Officers from the Boundary Police District's Serious Crime Squad took over the investigation and found that someone had chained his dog, but there was not enough drinking water nearby, and the environment was in poor sanitation.
The police then arrested a 64-year-old man surnamed Xie local and his 54-year-old wife Yang at the scene on the same day, on suspicion of cruelty to animals.
They have been released on bail pending investigation and are due to report to police in mid-May.
The body of the dog involved has been handed over to the Society for the Protection of Animals.
The Ai Xie pointed out that the dog involved was an adult Tang dog female, and the dog's carcass will be handed over to the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department for testing later.
The police stated that cruelty to animals is a serious crime. According to Section 3 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Ordinance, Chapter 169 of the Laws of Hong Kong, the maximum penalty for cruelty to animals is a fine of $200,000 and imprisonment for three years.
The police said that they attach great importance to and will not tolerate any cases of cruelty to animals. They must actively follow up each case and work closely with animal protection groups to follow up on animal welfare.
The police take this to appeal to the public to immediately report to the police if they find any animals suspected of being mistreated, and speak up for animals who do not know how to speak.