15 dead animals found on Hong Kong shores.

In the past two days, a total of 15 dead animals have been found in pet carriers, washed up onto the beaches of Hong Kong. On Wednesday, 12 dead cats were found in cages were discovered on Lamma Power Station Beach, with three other dead dogs found on St Stephen’s Beach in Stanley yesterday.

Sources have also suggested the two cases could be linked to a joint anti-smuggling operation mounted by the Hong Kong Police and Customs and Excise off Mui Wo on Lantau Island last Friday evening. In that operation, authorities seized 12 dogs along with HK$37million worth of goods, that included abalone, electronic goods, red wine and cosmetic products. The dogs that were found included labradors and poodles, and identification microchips implanted.

The officers are currently investigating whether or not those pets were being taken back to Mainland China to be reunited with their owners, having been first shipped to Hong Kong from overseas. A source close to the investigation has said: -

“We believe the cages carrying the animals were among some cargo that were thrown into the sea from one of two speedboats used by smugglers to avoid being arrested during the high-speed sea pursuit with law enforcers.”

It was said that the 15 dogs and cats were thought to have drowned before the cages washed ashore.

The Hong Kong Police were still investigating whether the 12 dead cats found on Thursday were also microchipped and registered in Hong Kong. They could not rule out the possibility that the pets were being smuggled to be reunited with their owners on the Mainland, but the animals could have also been intended for further sale.

According to the SCMP, a pet owner had finished his studies in Sydney and was to return home to Hangzhou in the Zhejiang province, hoping to be reunited with his three year old Maltese poodle. He had paid A$500 as a deposit and another A$2,960 (HK$16,500) to a WeChat user and cat seller in Sydney. He had been promised his dog would be shipped to Hong Kong, put up in a pet hotel for a few days whilst undergoing customs clearance, before being sent to the Mainland. He was also told that a company “DC International Animals Transport” in Hong Kong would take care of his dog. No such company exists. The owner had also said he would be sent daily updates but after the dog was picked up in Hong Kong, the company became completely uncontactable.

Operators of animal smuggling activities are able to make approximately HK$3,000 to HK$5,000 for every pet handled.

Main source: SCMP