Man Detained in Chongqing For Abusing Dogs Obtained Through Fake Adoptions

A 39-year-old man in Chongqing, southwest China, has been detained after police said he obtained dogs by falsely posing as an adopter and then abused them, leaving some injured or dead.

Police in Liangjiang New Area said the man, surnamed Li, acquired the dogs under the pretext of adoption before harming them. He has been placed under administrative detention, according to a police statement yesterday.

The case drew wide attention after online posts alleged that Li had repeatedly approached pet owners and animal rescuers through adoption channels, presenting himself as a suitable adopter. Several people later said the animals they handed over were found injured, dead or missing, according to media reports.

Residents in the Dashiba area reported Li to police on June 7, prompting an investigation, local authorities said. Three puppies found at Li's home were taken to a pet hospital and an animal shelter for treatment and temporary care, according to an earlier statement from the local subdistrict office.

In one widely circulated account, a two-month-old puppy was found with fractures, broken teeth, a severed tail and head swelling, and was later taken for veterinary treatment, Chinese media reported.

The allegations angered local residents and animal-rescue volunteers, some of whom gathered near Li's residential compound. Police called on the public to "care for life, reject violence" and to keep order.