World · East Asia & Pacific · 1 hr ago
Four A Pet Officials Arrested Over Alleged Unlicensed Injections
Osaka police arrested four people linked to pet chain A Pet over alleged unlicensed treatment of animals for sale.
Police say that from January 2025 to January 2026, unlicensed staff gave infection-treatment injections to nine dogs and cats at four Osaka stores.
The animals received 11 injections in total, and seven later died; investigators say it is unclear whether the injections caused their deaths.
Police also arrested a veterinarian and another person over the alleged unauthorized sale of 77 animal medicines to A Pet.
The medicines were allegedly sold for about 425,900 yen, with the sellers making about 95,000 yen from the price difference.
Searches of A Pet stores found staff medication manuals and injection drugs, and police are investigating whether cost-cutting led to repeated unlicensed treatment.
Osaka police arrested four A Pet officials on suspicion of arranging unlicensed injections for dogs and cats for sale.
Two veterinarians were also arrested on suspicion of illegally supplying veterinary drugs to A Pet.
Police allege that injections were given to nine animals at four Osaka Prefecture stores between January 2025 and January 2026.
Seven of the nine animals died, but police say the cause of death and any link to the injections are unknown.
The arrests were made on October 14, 2026.
- Who
- Four A Pet officials and two veterinarians were arrested.
- What
- They are suspected of unlicensed injections and unlawful veterinary drug sales.
- When
- The alleged injections took place from January 2025 to January 2026; the arrests were made on October 14, 2026.
- Where
- Four A Pet stores in Osaka Prefecture; the company is headquartered in Sakai, Osaka Prefecture.
- Why
- Police suspect the company arranged injections by staff without veterinary licences and that the veterinarians supplied drugs without the required sales permit.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Osaka police searched about 30 locations, including A Pet stores in Osaka and Tokyo.
Police allege that unlicensed staff gave injections to nine dogs and cats at four Osaka Prefecture stores.
Police allege that two veterinarians sold 77 veterinary drug items to A Pet in two transactions.
Osaka police arrested four A Pet officials and two veterinarians.
- Animals
- Nine dogs and cats allegedly received injections; seven died.
- Stores
- Four A Pet stores in Osaka Prefecture.
- Injection period
- January 2025–January 2026.
- Drug sales
- 77 items, worth 425,900 yen, allegedly sold in February 2026.
- Searches
- About 30 locations searched in March 2026.