"Mercury Battery in Dog Treats"... Warning of Terrorism Against Pets

Suspicious Snack-Like Object Found at Seongdong-gu Pet Dog Shelter
Seongdong-gu Mayor "Complaint Received... Will Request Investigation"

Recently, a post has been spreading online about mercury batteries disguised as dog treats being found at a dog shelter in Seongdong-gu, Seoul. In response, Seongdong-gu has received complaints and plans to request a formal investigation soon.

A snack-disguised object recently found at a dog shelter in Seongdong-gu, Seoul
[Image source: Social Networking Service capture]

According to Seongdong-gu Office on the 4th, multiple complaints have been received recently that an unidentified person has been distributing mercury batteries wrapped as dog treats at a dog shelter located in Seongdong-gu. This dog shelter, located in Haengdang-dong, is known to be frequently used not only by residents of Haengdang-dong but also by pet owners from nearby areas such as Seongsu-dong.

Earlier, on the 1st, a netizen posted a message titled "Attention, dog owners in Seongsu-dong" on social media. The netizen warned, "There is someone spreading mercury batteries wrapped as dog treats at the shelter," and urged nearby dog owners to be cautious. In the photo uploaded with the post, the object appears to be a mercury battery or a metal ball wrapped in a brown tape-like treat, making it look like an entire dog treat.

As concerns among local residents and pet owners grew, Jung Won-oh, the mayor of Seongdong-gu, shared the report on his Twitter on the 4th and provided an update on the situation. Mayor Jung stated, "Many people have sent the same questions, so I am sharing the response once again," and added, "Seongdong-gu has already received complaints related to (mercury batteries)." He continued, "The responsible department is currently reviewing nearby closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage, and once evidence is found, a formal investigation will be requested."

Mayor Jung also said, "I believe many people were shocked and concerned," and added, "Seongdong-gu is taking this matter seriously and will carefully review and implement follow-up measures."

Under the current Animal Protection Act, acts that cause injury to animals using tools or drugs are considered animal abuse, which is a crime punishable by up to two years in prison or a fine of up to 20 million won.

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