Two women have been arrested on suspicion of animal cruelty after a puppy was dumped in a rubbish bin in Mong Kok.

The three-month-old golden retriever, discovered on May 9 in an alley behind Hak Po Street, was later put down after being diagnosed with a highly contagious viral disease.

"The dog's condition was quite severe and it was suspected of having suffered improper treatment," said Inspector Yip Ho-lam.

Officers arrested two women, aged 28 and 39, at a flat in Ho Man Tin on Monday morning, Yip said.

After the puppy was rescued it was handed over to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals for medical care.

The group's Marsha Chun said the dog was found soaked in sewage water and chilli oil.

"At the time of rescue, the puppy was already convulsing non-stop," she said, adding that vets found it was suffering from terminal canine distemper.

"It had already entered a very severe stage, with persistent convulsions and an inability to drink water on its own - clear signs of serious neurological damage," she said.

"Since it had lost its basic ability to live and was enduring immense suffering, our team of veterinarians made a collective decision to euthanise the animal to relieve its distress."



Edited by Thomas McAlinden