[Sportschosun Jang Jong-ho] A man in China has sparked public outrage after allegedly taking in dogs and cats under the pretense of adoption, then abusing and killing them.
According to the South China Morning Post (SCMP), police in Chongqing's Liangjiang New Area said in a statement on the 10th that they had detained a 39-year-old man surnamed Li on suspicion of violating the Public Security Administration Punishments Law. The detention period can be up to 15 days, and it is understood to be the strongest measure police can take under the current system.
Police said Li lied by claiming, "I want to adopt and raise dogs," and then abused the animals, killing some of them. However, the specific charges were not disclosed.
Local reports said the investigation began after Li was found to have thrown animals from the balcony of his high-rise apartment. Volunteers involved in rescue efforts discovered a severely injured dog, and the case later expanded to include property damage and throwing animals from high places.
Li was reportedly known for frequently posting online that he wanted to adopt abandoned animals.
He also presented himself as someone with a stable family life, saying he lived with his wife and two young children and had experience raising pets.
But in April, some pet owners stirred controversy by posting warnings not to entrust animals to him, saying he had a history of abusing dogs and cats.
Earlier this month, a woman who did not know the background of the case gave Li a stray puppy she had rescued from the street, only to later grow suspicious. A few days later, after checking the apartment complex's CCTV footage, she found signs that the puppy's mother had been abused and killed. She asked for the puppy to be returned, but Li refused, and she reported the matter to police. At the time, however, she was told authorities had no legal power to order a forced return.
The case became a national issue after a video showing Li abusing a dog on the balcony of his apartment spread on June 6 through local pet communities. Animal welfare volunteers believe Li killed at least four dogs and cats.
Most of the victims were pets Li had taken in through supposed adoption arrangements.
On June 7, more than 100 volunteers staged a protest outside Li's home. During the demonstration, they found a severely injured two-month-old puppy on the apartment stairs, and they believe Li had also thrown that dog from the balcony.
An examination at an Animal Hospital found that the puppy's teeth had been cut off, its tail had been severed, and it had suffered multiple fractures.
As the case spread rapidly online, calls have grown in China for the enactment of an independent law to punish animal abuse. At present, China's Wildlife Protection and Management Act mainly applies to wild animals, including endangered species, and does not cover ordinary pets.
Netizens have flooded social media with criticism, saying, "His face should be made public and he must be severely punished," "He gave up being human," and "May he be reborn as an animal after death."
Jang Jong-ho, bellho@sportschosun.com
