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Both incidents took place at Cheung Fai Building in Cheung Sha Wan. Photo: Handout

Two turtles killed after being thrown from same building as Victoria Harbour dog

Police looking into whether both incidents are related

Two turtles were found dead on Thursday after being thrown from a building in Cheung Sha Wan – the same block where a dog was thrown from the roof and killed a day before.

Police are investigating and a force insider said they were looking into whether the two incidents are related. The suspect linked to the dog’s death is still being detained at a police station.

A police spokeswoman said a 27-year-old woman made a report at 11.39am after spotting two “dried up” turtles on the podium of Cheung Fai Building on Cheung Wah Street.

“The turtles were found dead from the fall. Officers found the incident suspicious and are treating the case as cruelty to animals,” she said.

Three dogs found dead in Hong Kong village, prompting police investigation

The source said: “The spot where the dead turtles lay was not at the same location where the dead dog was discovered the day before.”

Officers from the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals took the bodies away.

An SPCA spokeswoman said the woman told the organisation that she spotted the dead turtles several days ago. She reported the case on Thursday in wake of the dog’s death the previous day.

“Our inspectors found that the turtles had been dead for a period of time. We are not yet certain about the breeds, but they are the size of a palm,” the spokeswoman said.

A 10-year-old Japanese spitz died on Wednesday, just days after it was rescued by marine police from Victoria Harbour. Police suspect it was thrown from the roof of the same 23-storey residential block.
A dog was killed on Wednesday just days after marine police rescued it from Victoria Harbour. Photo: Handout

Officers arrested the dog owner’s son, 23, for animal cruelty at his home on the ninth floor.

The man, who was released from prison last year after serving time for burglary, admitted to throwing the dog from the building on impulse as he found it annoying. But he denied dumping the animal in the sea last week.

The source said the man would likely be charged by Thursday night and would appear in West Kowloon Court the next day.

Hong Kong police ‘take animal abuse as seriously as murder’ despite low conviction rate

The incident sparked an uproar among animal lovers, with lawmakers and concern groups calling for more respect for animals.

Cruelty to animals is a serious crime in Hong Kong and carries a maximum penalty of three years’ imprisonment and a fine of HK$200,000 (US$25,480).

In the first half of 2017, authorities prosecuted 10 people and convicted another 10 for abusing animals, compared with 15 prosecutions and 11 convictions in 2016.

This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as: Two turtles thrown off same block as harbour dog
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