Hong Kong police have arrested two men on suspicion of animal cruelty after claims emerged online of two dogs being taken away with plastic bags over their heads at a Buddhist monastery on Lantau Island.
An internet user accused staff of the Po Lin Monastery on Tuesday of wrapping the heads of two female dogs with plastic bags and abandoning them on a back hill.
Police said on Saturday they had contacted the relevant organisation after learning of the online claim and arrested two men on southern Lantau after investigating.
The pair – a 65-year-old man surnamed Ng and a 46-year-old surnamed Chui – were arrested over suspected animal cruelty. They were released on bail and are required to report to police in the middle of September.
The monastery said on Friday it had immediately questioned staff involved in the incident after receiving a complaint and arranged for employees to search for the dogs.
“Buddhism is all about compassion. The monastery has always treated the stray dogs of Ngong Ping with kindness, providing them with a basic resting place, desexing, vaccinations and general medical care,” it said.
“The monastery has so far not been able to find the two dogs. It has already placed missing dog notices in the surrounding area and will continue to arrange for staff to locate the animals. We hope to find them as soon as possible to care for them.”
Animal cruelty is punishable by up to three years in jail and a HK$200,000 (US$25,605) fine under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Ordinance.
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