Chinese man detained for allegedly torturing, killing adopted dogs under ‘caring’ guise

A man in China who sparked public outrage for abusing and killing his adopted dogs has been detained for throwing objects from a height and vandalism.The period of administrative detention he was placed under lasts for as long as 15 days and it is the toughest penalty the police could impose in the case because of inadequate anti-cruelty to animals law in the country.According to the statement issued by the Police Bureau of Liangjiang New District of southwestern Chongqing on June 10, the 39-year-old man, surnamed Li, lied about wanting to adopt dogs before harming and even killing some of them.He was detained for violating the Law on Penalties for Administration of Public Security.The above image shows Li allegedly abusing a cat on his balcony. Photo: WeiboThe police did not disclose the offence for which Li was being investigated, but the Beijing Youth Daily reported that it was for throwing objects from heights and vandalism after volunteers found a dog seriously injured after being thrown from Li’s high-rise balcony.Li often placed s online claiming he was willing to adopt animals.He aroused attention on social media in April when some pet owners revealed Li had abused pet cats and dogs before and reminded the public to be careful not to send pets to be fostered by him.In early June, a woman who was unaware of the alert discovered a homeless puppy and contacted Li.A crowd of people, above, gathered to protest outside Li’s residential block. Photo: WeiboDays later, she suspected Li had killed the puppy’s mother after checking the surveillance footage of the residential compound.When she asked Li to return the puppy, he refused. The woman called the police, but officers said they had no right to order Li to do that.On June 6, some videos showing Li abusing dogs on his balcony were circulated widely among local pet lovers.It is estimated that he had killed at least four cats and dogs since April, the pet lovers found.Further ReadingAll the animal victims were adopted by Li who had won people’s trust by showcasing that he has a stable family with a wife and two young children and is experienced in raising pets.The police, above, moved in to disperse the angry crowd of people. Photo: WeiboOn June 7, more than 100 volunteers protested outside Li’s home. They found a badly injured puppy in the stairwell of his housing block which had been thrown by Li from his balcony.The two-month-old dog was sent to a pet clinic where vets found its teeth had been cut level, its tail severed and it had multiple bone fractures.Li was then taken away by the police.As the Chongqing case went viral online, the mainland public called on the country to make laws to fight against animal abuse.China’s Wild Animals Protection Law only governs wild and precious animals; pets are not covered.As early as 2006, some delegates of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) jointly proposed that the national legislative body make laws against animal abuse.But little progress has been made since then.The Ministry of Justice only started collecting public opinions about an Anti-Cruelty to Animals Law last year.So far more than four million people have signed an online petition backing such a law.Fu Jian, a lawyer from the Henan Zejin Law Firm, said under the current legal framework there are no regulations protecting the welfare of non-wild animals. The police are usually incapable of taking action over cruelty to animals.Officers can refer to other laws and regulations, Fu told the Xiaoxiang Morning Herald.A forlorn dog looks out of a cage into the camera lens. Photo: ShutterstockFor example, if violators spread the abuse videos online, they can be charged for breaking the internet Safety Law. If they harm animals in public places, they will be punished for disturbing public order, although the penalty would be relatively light.“If they hurt animals in their private space, their actions are not deemed illegal and thus will not receive punishment,” Fu was quoted as saying.Qian Yefang, an animal protection law expert at Zhejiang Provincial Law Society, said the national authorities should consider public opinions seriously and pass the companion animals protection law as soon as possible.“The current law and regulations cannot effectively curb rampant cruelty towards animals and can not stop people from raising pets in an uncivilised way,” Qian told the SCMP.“Do not let every public outrage be just a prelude to another tragedy,” she added.In 2024, a man, also in Chongqing, was filmed using a stick to hit a dog in the street until it died. The animal’s cries from being hit were heard across the whole community, residents said.After some people called the police, officers said they could only warn the man not to disturb the public.“People who abuse animals are not entitled to be called human beings,” said one internet user.“I strongly urge the authorities to enact legislation protecting companion animals and ensure that violators face severe penalties,” said another.