Hong Kong woman denies abusing scores of pets

HONG KONG, June 26 (Reuters) A Hong Kong woman accused of keeping more than 100 animals, including two turtles belonging to an endangered species, in a small apartment with no ventilation has denied charges of animal abuse, a newspaper reported.

Li Yuet-mui, 52, is alleged to have kept 10 dogs, 31 cats, 14 birds, 26 turtles and 31 hampsters in her 46.5 sq m apartment in a crowded part of town, the South China Morning Post reported today.

Police and firemen broke into the woman's apartment in December after receiving complaints from a neighbour about a foul smell coming from the flat, the newspaper said.

Police and other officials who saw the woman's apartment described cages ''tainted with filth and urine'' and many without food, the newspaper said.

''The light was not turned on. Neither was the air-conditioning, nor the exhaust fan,'' the newspaper quoted a police sergeant as saying.

''All the windows inside the flat were closed.'' Some of the dogs suffered skin disease, and one of the two cats had eye problems, the newspaper said.

Li pleaded not guilty in the Hong Kong court yesterday to charges of animal abuse but admitted keeping two dogs without a licence, the report said.

REUTERS SLD KP0946