Source:
https://scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-crime/article/2098189/three-stillborn-puppies-found-near-hong-kong-airport Law and Crime
Three stillborn puppies found near Hong Kong airport rubbish bin
Cleaner discovered bodies of dogs believed to be pit bull terrier crossbreeds
The dogs were discovered inside a bag near a waste receptacle in Terminal One’s aisle F on Tuesday. Photo: K. Y. Cheng
The bodies of three stillborn puppies were found next to a rubbish bin at Hong Kong International Airport’s departure hall on Tuesday morning.
Police were called in just before noon after an airport cleaner discovered the pups – believed to be pit bull terrier crossbreeds – inside a bag near a waste receptacle in Terminal One’s aisle F.
A preliminary investigation traced the puppies to a male Taiwanese owner who had just collected their bodies from local animal authorities to take back to Taiwan.
The Agricultural, Fisheries and Conservation Department confirmed that the puppies were part of a litter born to a female pit bull terrier, which had been quarantined at the airport’s animal hostel since mid-April.
The dog’s owner had planned to emigrate to Hong Kong in July and had arranged to have his dog shipped to the city first. The dog, however, was already pregnant and detained at the airport after she was found to be part pit bull terrier.
Under Hong Kong law, pit bull terriers and their crossbreeds are classified as “fighting dogs” and cannot be imported into the city.
The department on Tuesday said the dog had given birth to a litter of seven while in quarantine, but three of them were stillborn. It claimed it had been in touch with the owner and had been discussing repatriation arrangements of the four surviving dogs and mother with their owner and Taiwanese authorities.
“After the dogs met all requirements of Taiwan authorities, the owner had arranged to take the dogs back to Taiwan on Tuesday, June 13,” a department spokesman said. “The department had returned the dogs, including the [stillborn] puppies, back to the owner. Staff had also ensured that all the live ones had left Hong Kong.”
The department was then informed by the Airport Authority on Tuesday that three bodies had been found. The spokesman said the bodies would be disposed of according to established procedures.
A breach of Cap 167D of the Dangerous Dogs Regulation can lead to a maximum fine of HK$50,000 and six months in jail.