Hong Kong authorities charge woman who allegedly kept 136 dogs without licences

Agriculture, Conservation and Fisheries Department issues court summons to suspect after conducting raid on Yuen Long shelter

Hong Kong authorities have charged a woman on suspicion of keeping 136 dogs without valid licences at a shelter previously investigated for alleged animal cruelty, the South China Morning Post has learned.

A spokesman for the Agriculture, Conservation and Fisheries Department (AFCD) said on Wednesday that the department commenced prosecution after conducting a raid in response to complaints about the shelter in Yuen Long district.

“During the operation, a total of 136 dogs were suspected of being kept without valid licences,” the spokesman said.

Authorities have issued a court summons to the woman and the case is expected to be mentioned in Tuen Mun Court on September 2.

The woman will be prosecuted under the Rabies Ordinance, which mandates that an owner or handler must have a licence for any dog over five months old, to be renewed every three years. Anyone found without a licence can face a maximum fine of HK$10,000 (US$1,270) upon conviction.

A source familiar with the matter told the SCMP that the suspect and the dog shelter had previously been investigated for alleged animal cruelty.