"People Are the Cruelest" Stabbed Pet Dog Bound with Rope... Public Outrage

Incident Near Sokcho Pier on the 6th of Last Month
Dog Owner: "Surgery Costs Over 1 Million Won... Reported to Police"
Animal Abuse Reports Surge Over 13 Times in the Last Decade
"It's the Same Life," "It's Chilling," Citizens Outraged

The pet dog, seriously injured in a stabbing attack in the early morning of the 6th of last month, is shown waiting for surgery after being transferred to an animal hospital. / Photo by Korea Kennel Club

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Ju-hyung] Social outrage is growing after it was belatedly revealed that a pet dog was stabbed with a sharp weapon. Recently, a series of cruel animal abuse incidents have occurred, raising concerns among citizens. Experts are calling for the establishment of a systematic manual to prevent animal abuse incidents in advance and to catch the perpetrators.

According to the Sokcho branch of the Korea Kennel Club (Kennel Club) on the 6th, an incident occurred last month near the Gangwon Sokcho Gaetbae ferry dock where a pet dog tied in a temporary shelter kennel was attacked with a sharp weapon.

The pet dog is presumed to have been stabbed with a sharp blade, and was found by its owner with a large wound on the back of its neck. The dog is currently recovering after undergoing surgery involving dozens of stitches at an animal hospital.

According to the Kennel Club, the perpetrator is suspected to have used a sharp weapon such as a cutter knife to attack the pet dog. However, the stabbed area missed major blood vessels, which is believed to have saved the dog's life.

Regarding this, the owner told the Kennel Club, "The surgery cost over 1 million won, but I am relieved that (the dog) survived," adding, "I reported the incident to the police and installed CCTV around the shelter."

Abandoned dog with damaged eyes / Photo by Animal Protection Management System

This is not the only case of indiscriminate attacks on animals. On May 22, in Anseong City, Gyeonggi Province, a dog presumed to be a brown Jindo mix was found collapsed by the roadside. At that time, the dog’s eyes were ruptured, and its face was covered in pus, putting its life in critical condition.

City rescue personnel captured the dog and urgently transported it to a nearby hospital. The dog underwent eye removal and suturing surgery and was able to recover health-wise, but it lost its eyesight permanently.

Meanwhile, in May last year, the Maltese abandoned dog "Sunsu" case sparked social outrage. Sunsu was found wandering the streets of Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, with its muzzle and nose mutilated. After undergoing eight surgeries, Sunsu survived but now lives with permanent respiratory disabilities.

The number of reported animal abuse cases is sharply increasing. According to data from the National Police Agency, violations of the Animal Protection Act, which numbered only 69 cases in 2010, surged to 914 cases by 2019, increasing more than 13 times over ten years.

The number of animal abuse reports has sharply increased, soaring more than 13 times over the past decade. / Photo by Yonhap News

As brutal animal abuse incidents continue to occur, citizens are expressing their anger.

A 20-year-old office worker A, who owns a pet, said, "Even animals that cannot speak are precious lives just the same, and committing such acts is tantamount to disregarding life," adding, "Animal abuse should be punished severely."

Another office worker B (31) said, "It gives me chills to think that the person who did this might be living normally elsewhere," expressing, "It really makes me realize that humans can be the cruelest."

Experts advised that professional responses from related organizations are necessary to prevent animal abuse in advance and to protect pets and abandoned animals.

The civic group "Animal Freedom Coalition" recently posted on its official website, "Although social consensus for strict punishment and active investigation of animal abuse cases is growing, our society’s response capability is insufficient," urging, "A systematic and comprehensive response manual that can be used in the field is needed."

They emphasized, "At abuse sites, witnesses and frontline personnel must be able to protect animals in danger and, furthermore, prevent animal abuse incidents in advance."

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