Hong Kong boy, 14, arrested for animal cruelty after badly injured cat dies

A 14-year-old Hong Kong boy has been arrested on suspicion of animal cruelty after bringing a badly injured cat that later died to a clinic for treatment.

Police said on Sunday that they received a report from an employee of a veterinary clinic in Cheung Sha Wan at 6.25pm on August 10, suspecting that a cat had been ill-treated.

“The informant said a 14-year-old boy had brought a cat for treatment, and found that the cat had injuries, suspecting that it had been treated inappropriately, which led to its death,” the police force said.

Officers arrived at the clinic and arrested the boy on suspicion of animal cruelty.

Police said the clinic was located at 124-126 Castle Peak Road, the address of Pets R Us Veterinary Medical Centre.

According to the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Ordinance, animal cruelty is an offence punishable by a HK$200,000 fine (US$25,500) and three years’ imprisonment upon summary conviction.