On 8 April, a 45 year old Hong Kong woman, who was in charge of a cargo container yard, was jailed for seven weeks for abusing 101 dogs in a breeding farm in Yuen Long three years ago. She was also fined HK$27,000 by the Tuen Mun Court, after prosecutors found 18 dogs were kept at the premises without a licence.

In a raid conducted on 31 October 2017, Hong Kong police found many of the dogs had been living in squalor, crammed into dirty and small crates in three cargo containers which had little to no ventilation. Most of the dogs there were popular breeds such as poodles, schnauzers and Pomeranians, and were severely malnourished and dehydrated.

She pleaded guilty to 22 summons offences, including three of cruelty to animals, one of neglecting to supply food and water to animals, and 18 of keeping a dog without licence. She also admitted to two criminal charges of aiding and abetting a breach of condition of stay, after she instructed two domestic helpers in her family to assist her in the breeding farm.

In sentencing, magistrate Jacky Ip Kai-leung held that she had been irresponsible in evading her legal responsibilities as a dog owner. The magistrate said: -

“Your selfish act has inflicted unnecessary pain to a large number of dogs…The only redeeming factor is that no dogs passed away or suffered grave injuries in the case”.

All of the animals were confiscated by the Hong Kong Government in 2018 pursuant to a Court Order.

This comes days after the UK introduced new legislation to tackle the low-welfare, high volume supply of puppies and kittens by banning their commercial third party sale in England.