Source:
https://scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1085556/two-suspects-held-after-cats-torture-triggers-outrage-internet
Hong Kong

Two suspects held after cat's torture triggers outrage on the internet

Two people were arrested yesterday on suspicion of torturing a stray cat at a public housing estate in Sau Mau Ping, Kwun Tong district, after pictures of the injured animal triggered an outcry on social networking sites.

The cat had to be put down following the attack.

The two unnamed suspects, a 24-year-old man and an 18-year-old woman, were taken in for police questioning.

The arrests came after pictures of the injured cat, with blood pouring from its mouth, outraged Facebook users over the weekend.

The cat was allegedly attacked by five people, including one woman, on the 11th floor of Tin Chi House in Shun Tin Estate at around 7pm on Friday. Two men reportedly kept kicking the cat and prevented it from escaping. The animal was later found to be paralysed in its lower body.

When a telecommunications company worker arrived on the scene, the five suspects fled.

About 40 police officers arrived at the estate yesterday to hand out questionnaires to the residents.

"We identified some suspicious people from CCTV footage in the [building's] lift ... and we collected information from the residents based on that," said Wong Cheung-ming, chief inspector of the Sau Mau Ping Police District's investigation unit.

Police also contacted a veterinarian from the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, who treated the cat. It was put down on Saturday afternoon because of its severe injuries.

This year, Sau Mau Ping police received two other reports of animal abuse, but both were dismissed after investigation. A police spokesman said that they would not tolerate any abusive behaviour towards animals.