Adelaide University hold Chinese Student Tianxiao Zhao to account for the death of Ozai.
The issue
University of Adelaide Integrity Unit,
We the undersigned are writing to raise a serious concern regarding a University of Adelaide student, Tianxiao Zhao, who has been publicly reported as having pleaded guilty and been convicted in the Adelaide Magistrates Court for an animal cruelty offence involving the severe beating of a housemate’s cat, Ozai. Ozai ultimately had to be euthanised due to the injuries.
According to media reports,the animal suffered extremely serious injuries, including a perforated lung, fractured jaw, internal bleeding and multiple other injuries. The reports also state that Tianxiao Zhao admitted he “lost control” after the cat defecated indoors. Although the court allowed him to leave on a good behaviour bond, the magistrate reportedly stated that she could not understand why such violence was inflicted on a helpless animal.
We respectfully ask the University of Adelaide to treat this matter as an urgent student conduct and campus safety concern. A conviction for severe animal cruelty is not merely a private matter. It raises serious questions about the student’s judgment, self-control, risk to vulnerable beings, and suitability to remain in the university community without appropriate disciplinary review, risk assessment, and restrictions where necessary.
We request that the University:
1.Confirm whether this matter has been referred for review under the relevant student conduct, integrity, or disciplinary procedures.
2.Assess whether Zhao’s conduct breaches the University’s expected standards of behaviour for students, including conduct occurring outside campus that may bring the University into disrepute or affect community safety.
3.Consider whether any scholarship, placement, laboratory, residential, animal-related, or community-facing access should be reviewed.
4.Conduct an appropriate risk assessment, especially given the violent nature of the conduct and the vulnerability of the victim animal.
5.Advise whether further public information or evidence should be submitted through the University’s complaint portal.
This Petition calling the University Of Adelaide to act,is made in good faith based on publicly available information. We are deeply concerned that a student who has been convicted of such serious cruelty may continue within the university community without meaningful institutional consequences or safeguards given landmark research reveals that animal abusers are upto five times more likely to commit violent crimes against humans.
For reference, attached are the publicly reported articles.
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The issue
University of Adelaide Integrity Unit,
We the undersigned are writing to raise a serious concern regarding a University of Adelaide student, Tianxiao Zhao, who has been publicly reported as having pleaded guilty and been convicted in the Adelaide Magistrates Court for an animal cruelty offence involving the severe beating of a housemate’s cat, Ozai. Ozai ultimately had to be euthanised due to the injuries.
According to media reports,the animal suffered extremely serious injuries, including a perforated lung, fractured jaw, internal bleeding and multiple other injuries. The reports also state that Tianxiao Zhao admitted he “lost control” after the cat defecated indoors. Although the court allowed him to leave on a good behaviour bond, the magistrate reportedly stated that she could not understand why such violence was inflicted on a helpless animal.
We respectfully ask the University of Adelaide to treat this matter as an urgent student conduct and campus safety concern. A conviction for severe animal cruelty is not merely a private matter. It raises serious questions about the student’s judgment, self-control, risk to vulnerable beings, and suitability to remain in the university community without appropriate disciplinary review, risk assessment, and restrictions where necessary.
We request that the University:
1.Confirm whether this matter has been referred for review under the relevant student conduct, integrity, or disciplinary procedures.
2.Assess whether Zhao’s conduct breaches the University’s expected standards of behaviour for students, including conduct occurring outside campus that may bring the University into disrepute or affect community safety.
3.Consider whether any scholarship, placement, laboratory, residential, animal-related, or community-facing access should be reviewed.
4.Conduct an appropriate risk assessment, especially given the violent nature of the conduct and the vulnerability of the victim animal.
5.Advise whether further public information or evidence should be submitted through the University’s complaint portal.
This Petition calling the University Of Adelaide to act,is made in good faith based on publicly available information. We are deeply concerned that a student who has been convicted of such serious cruelty may continue within the university community without meaningful institutional consequences or safeguards given landmark research reveals that animal abusers are upto five times more likely to commit violent crimes against humans.
For reference, attached are the publicly reported articles.
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Petition created on 26 June 2026