A Cat Turned Completely Blue... Netizens Outraged Over 'Dyeing Terror'

A stray cat named Soap was found with its entire body subjected to dye vandalism.
[Photo by Animal Freedom Alliance Instagram capture]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Sumi] A stray cat was found covered in dye, sparking outrage among many netizens.

The animal protection organization Animal Freedom Alliance revealed the story of a stray cat named Binu, whose entire body had turned blue, on their official Instagram on the 17th.

According to Animal Freedom Alliance, Binu was a stray cat who lived by eating food provided by local residents. One day, Binu stopped coming to eat, and after a week, was found crying in a corner.

At that time, Binu was dyed blue from head to toe with an unidentified dye. Animal Freedom Alliance stated, "It is presumed that one person lifted Binu up while another painted from the face to the inside of the belly and the paws with a brush," suggesting that more than two people were involved in the act. They added, "What was even more bizarre was that the dyeing was done meticulously, as if the white fur parts were selectively painted."

Cats have a habit of licking their fur, so ingesting the dye could have been dangerous. Binu was immediately examined, and fortunately, no major abnormalities were found. However, even after bathing, Binu still has blue-dyed fur remaining.

Animal Freedom Alliance said, "Despite investigating the neighborhood regarding Binu's dyeing, no circumstantial evidence was found," and added, "Binu still approaches people as if nothing happened." They also noted, "Although the process of washing off the blue dye and bathing must have been difficult, Binu simply entrusted itself to people."

Netizens who heard the story expressed their anger with comments such as "This is so infuriating," "Why would someone do such a thing?" and "It's heartbreaking because Binu is a gentle cat who likes people."

Meanwhile, according to the Animal Protection Act, those who abuse animals can face up to two years in prison or a fine of up to 20 million won. If the abuse results in the animal's death, the penalty can be up to three years in prison or a fine of up to 30 million won.

However, criminal punishment for animal abuse is extremely rare. According to the National Police Agency, from 2010 to 2019, out of 3,345 people arrested for violating the Animal Protection Act, only 304 were prosecuted, and among them, only 10 received prison sentences. Even then, those prison sentences were mostly due to additional charges such as drunk driving and assault, and the sentences were only for a few months. 183 received fines, 21 had their sentences suspended, and 4 were acquitted.

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