A video has recently been circulated on the internet showing a Shiba Inu being mistreated violently by a man in a pet park in the Sung Wong Toi Garden. Upon investigation by the police, a man has been arrested today on suspicion of animal cruelty.

Inspector Chan Chi-chiu (陳智超) of the Kowloon City Division's animal cruelty police unit provided an account of the case, stating that the video clip showed a Chinese male pressing the shiba inu onto the ground in a pet park in Sung Wong Toi Garden for over half a minute, during which the shiba inu kept struggling. The Kowloon City Division's animal cruelty police unit took initiative to investigate the incident. After thorough investigation and intelligence analysis, the target suspect was swiftly identified and arrested at his residence in Ngau Chi Wan at around 1pm this afternoon.

The arrested man, named Lin and aged 39, was reported to be working as a driver and is currently being held for investigation on suspicion of “animal cruelty". It is believed that the man is not the owner of the Shiba Inu in question, and that he has his own dog. The incident occurred at Sung Wong Toi Garden, a popular local dog spot. It is also where people claim to know how to train dogs and will “demonstrate their skills" to other dog owners from time to time. Sources at the scene expressed that they suspect the Shiba Inu in question bit the arrested man while he was "teaching” it. He then pinned the Shiba Inu to the ground, claiming that he needs to correct the Shiba Inu’s habits.

The incident was witnessed and filmed by other dog owners at the park and was subsequently posted on the Internet. Some netizens indicated that the behaviour was violent and suspected of animal abuse. It is reported that the police are currently looking for the shiba inu and its owner involved in the incident.

Chan Chi-chiu stated that the police are currently still investigating the case and does not rule out further arrests in the near future, and urges members of the public who witnessed the incident to contact the Kowloon City Division's animal cruelty police unit at 36617848.

The relevant video was uploaded by netizens to the Facebook group "Hong Kong Cats, Dogs and Pets reporting area- (volunteer/abuse/missing/witness/adoption)” (「香港貓狗及寵物報料區-(義工/被虐/失蹤/目擊/領養)」). The video shows a man wearing a vest and shorts pushing a black Shiba Inu by its neck with one hand and pinning it to the ground in the pet park at Sung Wong Toi Garden at around 10pm last Thursday (21 July). The Shiba Inu kept crying and struggling to get up, but the man forced it back down again and shouted "Stop" while the Shiba Inu let out a raspy bark.

According to the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Ordinance (Cap. 169), cruelty to animals includes cruelly beating, kicking, ill-treating, torturing, infuriating or terrifying an animal, or causing any unnecessary suffering to any animal by doing or omitting to do any act in a wanton or unreasonable manner. Upon conviction, offenders may be liable to a maximum penalty of three years' imprisonment and a fine of HK$200,000.

Courtesy of Chloe Ip

Main Source: HK01