In the video, a man stands on a balcony at night hitting a puppy as it lets out sharp shrieks. He gruffly carries the dog back inside by its neck.
The scene in the southwestern Chinese city of Chongqing was captured by a neighbor and posted on social media this month. The video prompted concerned residents to go to the man’s apartment, where they confronted him and rescued three abused puppies, according to videos posted on social media. Within days, hundreds of people had gathered outside his apartment, in a rare display of activism that resulted in violent clashes with the police, as the local authorities tried to suppress the demonstration.
The man, a 39-year-old surnamed Li, was detained, according to a statement by the police in Liangjiang New District, which added that he had adopted dogs under false pretenses and abused them, causing injury and even death.
Three dogs belonging to Mr. Li were sent to an animal shelter and a veterinary hospital, the local authorities said in a statement. One of them had several fractured bones, a severed tail and broken teeth, the puppy’s former owner, who helped rescue the dog, told Xinkuaibao, a local media outlet. The other two were severely malnourished and suffered from hypothermia, according to a social media post by the animal shelter Wangwang Home, which took the two dogs.
Because China does not have dedicated animal protection laws, the most serious charge Mr. Li could face would likely be for disrupting public order, which carries a maximum punishment of 15 days’ detention.
This is the latest case of animal abuse in China that has spurred citizen outrage and calls for laws prohibiting animal cruelty. The incident underscores how Chinese citizens, especially young people, are making demands of their leaders, even as the authorities repress civic activism by breaking up gatherings and censoring videos and online discussion.
