A 14-year-old boy surnamed Chan was arrested in Cheung Sha Wan on suspicion of cruelly treating an animal after an eight-month-old grey-and-white long-haired cat he was looking after was later confirmed dead. The arrest reflects a suspicion under investigation and does not establish that the boy was responsible for the cat’s death.
The cat was kept by the boy’s classmate, who had temporarily left Hong Kong and entrusted it to him. The boy took the cat to an animal medical centre in Cheung Sha Wan at about 5.30pm on August 10.
A veterinarian found blood around the cat’s mouth and nose, as well as signs that it was completely wet and had fluid in its abdomen. The veterinarian suspected that the animal had been abused and contacted police. The cat was subsequently confirmed dead.
Police said their investigation found that someone had allegedly slapped and kicked the cat at home earlier that day. The supplied report does not establish whether the person alleged to have carried out those acts was the arrested boy, and the allegations have not been determined by a court.
Police attended the scene and arrested the boy. The case is being handled by the second team of the Sham Shui Po crime investigation support team. No precise time or cause of the cat’s death, charging decision or details of any subsequent court proceedings were provided.