Woman admits tying dogs' mouths to stop barking

A woman pleaded guilty to silencing four of her dogs late last year by tying rubber straps round their mouths after neighbours in Shau Kei Wan complained of their barking.

The straps hurt the animals' mouths and noses, leading to swelling, Eastern Court heard yesterday.

Maggie Tsui Mee-kie, 36, admitted to two counts of cruelty to animals.

Defence counsel Lawrence Hui described Tsui as a dog lover who took stray dogs home because she was afraid they would be put down if she passed them to the authorities.

At the time she was found out, she was keeping 11 strays in a kennel at home, the court heard.

Magistrate Joseph To Ho-shing said it was beyond Tsui's ability to take care of 11 dogs. Her "good intentions resulted in wrongdoing", he said.