Four men in Hong Kong are sentenced 30 days in jail by a local court for slaughtering two dogs for food, Hong Kong newspapers said Saturday.

 

The four defendants were found butchering two dogs raised by one of them for food on Nov. 12 and reported to the police by their fellow villagers.

 

Their lawyer tried to defend them by portraying the act as food culture in stead of animal abusing, a local newspaper said.

 

However, the court believes modern society now is paying more attention to the rights of animals and the slaughter banned by the Dogs and Cats Ordinance brings negative effects to society.

 

The sentence was welcomed by animal lovers, saying the case will let citizens understand killing dogs for food is uncivilized.

 

(Xinhua News Agency December 24, 2006)