Dog Bite Fatality Avoided Euthanasia... Even Named 'Hyeokmyeong'i'

In May 2021, a Woman in Her 50s Bitten in Namyangju
Left the Dog Training Center She Stayed at and Went to an Animal Protection Group

In May 2021, a dog involved in an incident in Namyangju-si, Gyeonggi Province, that bit a woman in her 50s during a walk, causing her death, has avoided euthanasia and will be transferred to an animal rights protection organization.

On the 6th, Namyangju City announced that it had donated the Golden Retriever mix involved in the incident, which had been under the city's protection, to the animal rights protection group 'Catch Dog Team.' This dog bit the neck and back of a woman in her 50s in a mountain area in Saneung-ri, Jingun-eup, Namyangju-si, in May 2021, causing her to die from excessive bleeding. At the time, the dog was wandering in the mountain. Investigations revealed that the dog belonged to a man in his 60s who owned a breeding facility raising 15 dogs nearby.

The appearance of the dog involved in the 'Namyangju dog bite fatality case,' recently released by the animal rights protection group 'Catch Dog Team.'
[Photo by Yonhap News]

The man in his 60s, identified as the owner of the dog, was sentenced to one year in prison in the first trial last November on charges including professional negligence causing death, but he has appealed the verdict along with the prosecution. Namyangju City has been caring for the dog at a dog training center at the prosecution's request to preserve the dog as evidence until the trial concludes.

With the first trial concluded, Namyangju City issued a public notice regarding the lost and abandoned animal on the 11th of last month. After 10 days passed with no one claiming the dog, the city acquired ownership. Subsequently, on the 3rd, the city donated the dog to Catch Dog Team.

A Namyangju City official explained the reason for the donation, stating, "The nonprofit private organization Catch Dog Team has continuously expressed their willingness to manage the dog involved in the incident." A representative of Catch Dog Team said, "Although some suggested euthanizing the dog, we judged that it was not a fundamental solution and decided to take the dog in."

On the 4th, Catch Dog Team announced the acquisition of the dog on social media, attaching the hashtag '#Hyeokmyeongi' to reveal the dog's new name. Catch Dog Team plans to provide appropriate training for Hyeokmyeongi and is also submitting petitions for strict punishment against the man in his 60s, who was the actual owner of the dog.

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