Hong Kong authorities have brought charges against a woman accused of keeping 136 dogs without valid licences at a shelter in Yuen Long that had previously been investigated over suspected animal cruelty, the South China Morning Post has reported.
The Agriculture, Conservation and Fisheries Department said on Wednesday that it began prosecution proceedings following a raid prompted by complaints concerning the shelter.
“During the operation, a total of 136 dogs were suspected of being kept without valid licences,” the spokesman said.
A court summons has been issued to the woman, with the case scheduled to be mentioned at Tuen Mun Court on September 2.
The prosecution is being brought under the Rabies Ordinance, which requires owners or handlers to obtain licences for dogs older than five months. The licences must be renewed every three years. A person convicted of keeping a dog without a valid licence may receive a maximum fine of HK$10,000 (US$1,270).
A source familiar with the case told the SCMP that both the woman and the shelter had previously been subject to an investigation over allegations of animal cruelty.
The AFCD said on May 25 that it was looking into suspected animal cruelty at a dog shelter on Ching Tam Road in Yuen Long.
The investigation followed a complaint concerning dogs allegedly being confined in cages located in exposed areas of the shelter. AFCD officers initially could not gain access to the premises when they visited on May 21.
The officers returned the following day accompanied by police personnel and entered the shelter to proceed with the investigation.
During the inspection, AFCD personnel discovered several dogs confined in cages in open areas where adequate shelter was not provided. Although the department did not reveal how many dogs were found in the cages, 12 were taken into its care.
