"Dog 'Sunsu' Wandering with Nose and Mouth Cut Off"... Abuse Suspicion Petition Appears on Blue House Website

Multiple Reoperations Due to Surgical Failure... Support Funds Received
Petitioner "Searching for Perpetrator... Proposes 'Adoption Procedure Regulations' for Companion Animals"

The story of the puppy 'Sunsu,' who was wandering the streets with its nose and mouth cut off, has caused shock and sorrow. Photo by a petitioner on SNS capture.

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-ju] The story of a dog named 'Sunsu,' who was found wandering the streets with its nose and mouth cut off, has shocked and saddened many.

On the 29th of last month, a post titled "Please strongly regulate the pet adoption process by law to prevent children like Sunsu from ever existing again" was uploaded on the Blue House National Petition board.

◆Dog found through an app... Horrifying beyond belief

The petitioner, who identified themselves as a volunteer for abandoned dogs, wrote, "In May 2020, I saw a dog in an unbelievably horrific condition through an abandoned dog app."

According to the petitioner, this Maltese dog was discovered last May in the redevelopment area of Imun-dong, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, by a tipster walking by. The dog was handed over to the Dongdaemun District Office.

At the time of discovery, not only were the dog's nose and mouth cut off, but a cable tie was tightly fastened around its neck, digging into the flesh.

The petitioner said that upon seeing the dog's photo, they immediately felt the need to rescue it and eventually adopted the dog named 'Sunsu' from a shelter.

Sunsu's condition was far more severe than expected.

The wounds extended deep into the nose, completely blocking the nasal airway, making it impossible to breathe through the nose.

Photo by Cheongwadae National Petition capture.

◆'Sunsu' having seizures and unable to breathe... Multiple failed surgeries and suffering from aftereffects

Several surgeries were attempted to create two openings (nares) in the nose, but they eventually closed up again.

Sunsu constantly shook its body as if struggling to breathe, making sounds of air leaking and choking, and even experienced seizures.

Facial reconstructive surgery was planned to prevent aftereffects, but due to the extensive damage, the surgery was difficult.

Fortunately, the surgeries to reconstruct Sunsu's lips and philtrum were successfully completed, thanks to donations from many people.

However, the joy was short-lived as Sunsu, feeling uncomfortable with its nose, licked it all day long, causing the surgical site to reopen and requiring another surgery.

The petitioner has decided to observe Sunsu's health recovery for a while after several surgeries.

Pure puppy. Photo by Cheongwonin SNS capture.

◆Petitioner: "Suspected animal abuse... Police investigation underway to find the perpetrator"

The petitioner said, "Even after several months, Sunsu suffers from lifelong scars and aftereffects," and appealed, "It is presumed that Sunsu was injured due to abuse."

They explained, "(Sunsu's) teeth and gums were intact, but the nose and lips were cleanly cut in a straight line, with no signs of burns or traffic accidents. There were no signs of congenital deformities, snagging injuries, or traps," and estimated that it was "artificially cut with a sharp tool."

The petitioner added, "Knowing this caused me great mental shock, but I lacked the courage to fight the difficult and harsh battle and did not think about catching the perpetrator. Others who knew about this reported it to the media, but it did not become publicized."

They continued, "However, seeing Sunsu smile brightly despite the terrible memories gave me courage. I reported it to the police, and an animal abuse investigation is underway," and said they are looking for witnesses to Sunsu's abuse through SNS activities, flyers, and other methods.

Photo by Cheongwonin SNS capture.

◆Petitioner demands "Regulation of pet adoption procedures"

The petitioner, who is suffering from guilt over the delayed initial investigation, said, "Preventing children like Sunsu from appearing again is the way to repay my apologies to Sunsu," and claimed that the reason such abuse occurred was "because the process of adopting companion dogs was flawed from the start."

They stated, "People adopt living beings displayed like goods without planning, and sellers do not verify identities or explain how to care for the animals; they just exchange money," and proposed 'regulation of pet adoption procedures.'

The 'regulation of adoption procedures' includes introducing certification or qualification systems to ensure owners have knowledge about pets, verifying the identity and location of adopters, banning adoption by those with histories of child abuse or violence, and imposing penalties stronger than heavy fines.

Finally, the petitioner urged participation in the petition, saying, "If the adoption procedures are legally established, people's awareness will also change."

As of 8:50 PM on the 1st, 9,664 people have signed the petition.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.