65-year-old warehouse owner arrested over abuse of three dogs in Sheung Shui

A 65-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of cruelty to animals after three dogs were found in appalling conditions at a warehouse in Sheung Shui. 

The arrest followed an inspection by North District Councillor Lau Chun-hoi on Sunday morning, during which he discovered two puppies trapped in a tiny metal cage without food or water. Another black mongrel was wandering inside the warehouse with a 20-centimeter wound on its tail, covered in flies and emitting a foul smell. 

Lau attempted to contact the warehouse owner but received no response, so he reached out to Kent Luk, founder of an animal welfare group Paws Guardian Rescue Shelter. The owner failed to appear at the scene by evening, prompting them to call the police for assistance. 

Lau stated that the owner denied owning the three dogs and insisted that he did not keep any dogs. He hoped that the case would result in a conviction, sending a strong message that cruelty towards animals will not be tolerated.

Luk said he had previously received reports about potential dog abuse at the warehouse seven years ago. Over the years, at least eight dogs were injured, and five of them died. Some dogs had suffered severe injuries, such as broken limbs and exposed bones. 

He added that the warehouse owner once claimed he kept black dogs for “warding off bad fortune.” Yet whenever dogs were injured, the owner denied ownership, asserting they were strays with no microchips implanted. 

He criticized the lack of improvement despite multiple reported incidents of suspected animal abuse over the years, urging for stronger prosecution efforts. 

Police stated that they received a report at 5.52pm yesterday. The warehouse owner was arrested for suspected cruelty to animals. The case is under investigation.