- Wong Wan-ching was also fined HK$27,000 by Tuen Mun Court, after prosecutors found 18 dogs were kept at the site without a licence
- In a raid on October 31, 2017, police found many dogs were crammed into dirty crates in three poorly ventilated cargo containers at Wong’s farm
A Hong Kong woman was on Wednesday jailed for seven weeks for abusing 101 dogs in a breeding farm in Yuen Long three years ago.
Wong Wan-ching was also fined HK$27,000 (US$3,482) by Tuen Mun Court, after prosecutors found 18 dogs were kept at the site without a licence.
The court heard the 45-year-old woman was in charge of a cargo container yard in Fung Kat Heung three years ago, where 101 dogs were found living in poor conditions. Most of them were popular breeds, such as poodles, schnauzers and Pomeranians.
In a raid conducted on October 31, 2017, police found many animals were crammed into dirty crates in three poorly ventilated cargo containers. Some dogs were severely malnourished and dehydrated.
Wong was allowed bail soon after her arrest, but she fled to mainland China and did not return until January 30 this year. She was intercepted at the Lok Ma Chau border on that day and was subsequently detained.
On Wednesday, she pleaded guilty to 22 summons offences, including three of cruelty to animals, one of neglecting to supply food and water to animals, and 18 of keeping a dog without licence. She also admitted to two criminal charges of aiding and abetting a breach of condition of stay, after she instructed two domestic helpers in her family to assist her in the breeding farm.
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In mitigation, defence lawyer Raymond Yu Chiu-cheuk said the breeding farm was a temporary shelter for the 101 animals, which were previously kept at a farm in Fanling.
After the farm's lease was terminated, Wong was so busy finding a permanent site to keep the dogs that she neglected her duty to take care of them, the lawyer said.
He urged magistrate Jacky Ip Kai-leung to be lenient towards the defendant, who had a broken marriage.
In her letter to the court, Wong said she was a "natural-born lover" of dogs, and was willing to spend large sums on their medical expenses.
But Ip found her claims unbelievable, adding that she was irresponsible in evading her legal responsibilities as a dog owner.
"Your selfish act has inflicted unnecessary pain to a large number of dogs," he told the defendant standing in the dock. "The only redeeming factor is that no dogs passed away or suffered grave injuries in the case."
All the animals were confiscated by the government in 2018 pursuant to a court order.
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