Good Dog and Bad Owner... Another Dog Bite Incident Caused by 'Negligence'

7-Year-Old Girl Severely Injured in 12 Places After Being Bitten by 5 Pungsan Dogs... Over 4 Hours of Surgery
Victim's Parents "We Asked for Safety Measures Like Muzzles and Leashes Before the Accident... But It Still Happened"
Negligent Dog Owner's Attitude Causes 'Dog Bite Accident'
Experts "Need to Strengthen Pet Dog Management Obligations"

As dog bite incidents continue to occur repeatedly, there is a growing demand for strengthening owners' responsibility in managing their pets. [Image source=Pixabay]

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoon Seul-gi] Once again, a dog bite accident occurred due to the negligence of the owner. A 7-year-old child was bitten by a dog that was let loose without a leash, resulting in severe injuries that required surgery lasting over four hours. Given the sudden nature of dog bite incidents, special care in managing one’s pet dog is necessary, but the complacent attitude of owners who think "our dog is well-behaved" continues to be repeated.

On the 30th of last month, a post titled "Pet Owner and Dog Punishment Regarding Dog Bite Accidents" was uploaded on the National Assembly’s Public Consent Petition Board.

The petitioner, Mr. A, claimed that his daughter, Ms. B (7), was severely bitten in 12 places including her lower body and arms by five Pungsan dogs raised like hunting dogs, requiring surgery lasting four hours. He lamented, "Our family repeatedly asked the upstairs dog owner to take safety measures such as dog fences, muzzles, and leashes, but in the end, an accident still happened to our young daughter."

The condition of Ms. B, who suffered the dog bite, was serious. Mr. A said, "Our child’s body had as many as 12 torn wounds after wiping off the blood," and added, "On the third day of hospitalization, she underwent a four-hour surgery under general anesthesia performed by an orthopedic professor."

However, it is reported that the offending dog owner intends to continue raising the dogs that attacked Ms. B. Mr. A said, "What made us even more desperate was that the upstairs dog owners insisted on continuing to keep the dogs," and added, "After the accident, we again asked them to take measures such as placing the dogs in a foster facility or giving them up for adoption, but the offending owners claimed, 'They are originally good dogs,' and 'Dogs are necessary to protect crops from wild animals when farming.'"

In response, Mr. A appealed, "There needs to be a law that prohibits keeping dogs that have attacked people and caused serious injuries. If there is no law, at least administrative measures should be taken," and urged, "Please help ensure that the dogs and owners who caused extreme physical and mental suffering to a family receive appropriate punishment and can repent for their wrongdoing."

As dog bite incidents continue to occur repeatedly, there is a growing demand to strengthen owners' responsibility for managing their pets. The photo is unrelated to the article. [Image source=Pixabay]

Such dog bite accidents are not new. On the 19th of last month, a couple on their honeymoon in Gangwon-do were walking their pet dog when they were suddenly attacked by a large dog. According to YTN, Mr. C, the husband, was walking their 6-month-old Bichon Frise when a Border Collie suddenly charged and attacked them.

As a result, Mr. C’s wife suffered injuries to her arms and legs and was diagnosed with a three-week recovery period. She is also reported to be struggling with trauma from the incident in her daily life. Their pet dog also suffered bite wounds on various parts of its body.

Since most dog bite accidents occur due to negligence in pet dog management, owners are required to exercise special care and supervision. Experts advise that strengthening owners’ sense of responsibility, especially for breeds other than dangerous dogs, is the best way to reduce dog bite incidents.

Lee Won-bok, CEO of the Korea Animal Protection Union, said, "Dog bite accidents are occurring repeatedly and have become a social issue," and added, "To reduce dog bite accidents, it is necessary to strengthen the obligations of pet dog management." He further pointed out, "Guidelines for managing dogs that have caused bite incidents are also needed," and noted, "Because there are no related regulations, confusion continues over how to handle dogs that have caused bite accidents. It is time for social discussion."

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