A Retrospective Analysis of Typologies of Animal Abuse Recorded by the SPCA, Hong Kong

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Statistical data are necessary to inform public debate on effective animal protection legislation. This retrospective study of 254 animal cruelty complaints recorded by the SPCA (Hong Kong) between 2013 and 2019 identified the gender and age of abusers, their relationship with the owner of the animal (where the owner was not the suspect) and the circumstances of the abuse. Animals are primarily at risk of harm from their male owners and owners’ family members. Most cases involved traumatic physical injury to dogs, with 30% of cases involving animals being killed by the defendant or having to be euthanised within 24 h of rescue, due to the level of cruelty inflicted upon them. The second most common typology of abuse involved neglect, with 27% of cases involving animals that had died from neglect or required euthanasia within 24 h of rescue. Most neglect cases involved animals being abandoned inside private premises without food/water. Abuse motivated by commercial profit was dominated by the breeding of dogs and cats for the pet trade. Dogs collected from strays were the most commonly hoarded species. Recognising the types of abuse and the species most at risk can inform legislation intended to protect animals. ABSTRACT: We conducted a retrospective study of 254 suspected cruelty offences recorded by the Hong Kong Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) between January 2013 and December 2019. Cases were categorised into four types of abuse: active maltreatment, passive neglect, commercial exploitation and hoarding. Attributes of defendants, relationship with the owner of the animal (where the owner was not the defendant) and the circumstances of the abuse (species of animal, number of animals involved, type of harm, need for medical care, number of animals seized) were recorded for each case. The majority of prosecuted cases involved traumatic physical injury to dogs, with 30% causing the death of animals. The second most common type of harm prosecuted was neglect, with 27% of cases causing death. The majority of neglect cases involved dogs abandoned inside private premises without food/water. The median number of animals hoarded was 47, with dogs the most common species. The majority of hoarders had collected their animals from strays. The largest hoarding cases (>100 animals) were operating as animal rescue shelters. Strategies to address cruelty to animals in Hong Kong can be informed by an understanding of which species are at greater risk of harm and in what circumstances this harm might occur.