Two teenage boys appeared in Mandurah Children's Court charged with animal cruelty after allegedly forcing a black swan to inhale vape fumes, filmed and shared on social media. One boy pleaded guilty, while the other has yet to enter a plea.
Authorities rescued 80 cats and 12 dogs from the squalid Stuart, Florida home of 77-year-old Gail Giustino, a mail carrier, who was charged with animal cruelty and confinement. The animals were found in extreme conditions, with up to a foot of feces, and Giustino is believed to be suffering from mental health issues.
Chinese internet users and animal lovers are outraged by a video showing minors killing a stray dog and her puppies in Jieyang. Despite censorship and authorities citing the boys' age, the incident has sparked offline protests and calls for animal cruelty laws, even reaching international billboards.
A dog slaughterhouse owner in southern China, Huang, has closed his facility and is transitioning to a new livelihood with support from animal advocates, just days before the controversial Yulin dog meat festival.
The head of an animal protection group, Rumi Marunouchi (47), was arrested for animal cruelty after her home was found with scattered remains of dead dogs and cats, feces, and urine. She allegedly failed to provide proper medical care to 24 rescued animals and 15 of her own.
Tokyo police arrested Rumiko Marunouchi, head of the animal welfare group "Hogoken Neko no Ie Nanachan no Ouchi," on suspicion of violating the Animal Welfare Act. She is accused of keeping 29 dogs and 10 cats in unsanitary conditions, with 19 suffering from eye diseases, and discovering over 30 animal carcasses.
Humpback whale Timmy, rescued in a controversial €1.5m operation after being stranded in Germany, has been confirmed dead by Danish authorities. Found near Anholt island, the whale's death follows criticism from experts and the International Whaling Commission.
Hong Kong police arrest two women for suspected animal cruelty after a sick 3-month-old Golden Retriever, found in a Mong Kok rubbish bin, was euthanized.
For the first time, the National Crime Records Bureau has tracked animal cruelty cases, registering 9,039 incidents and arresting over 10,000 individuals in 2024. Maharashtra led with the highest number of cases. The data reveals a high conviction rate for concluded cases but significant delays in judicial disposal.
