Couple Working as Substitute Drivers "Bitten by a Dangerous Dog in the Car, but the Customer Blames Us"

A story about a substitute driver and his wife being severely bitten by a fierce dog in a customer's car and not receiving proper compensation has sparked outrage among netizens. On the 5th, an online community called 'Bobae Dream' posted an article titled "Dog owner watching while a person is bitten by a fierce dog and bleeding." The author, Mr. A, started working as a two-person substitute driving team with his wife two months ago. Mr. A would drive the customer's car while his wife followed in their own vehicle.

On the day of the incident, Mr. A was working with his wife as a substitute driver. During this time, after receiving a call from a customer, he got into a car that had three dogs?a fierce Rottweiler, a Chow Chow, and another small dog?without muzzles or leashes. Mr. A stated, "Around 2:30 a.m., a young customer suddenly started cursing at me for speeding and made me stop the car. Both the customer and I got out of the car, and the customer left the front passenger door open."

Mr. A's hand was attacked by a fierce dog and became covered in blood. The flesh was torn, turning it into a ragged mess, and he was ultimately given a four-week recovery period at the hospital.
[Photo by online community 'BobaeDream']

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He continued, "The customer kept cursing and pushed me, and while my wife was trying to stop this from behind the car, the Rottweiler came out of the car," adding, "The dog grabbed my wife's hair, shook her, and dragged her away. She screamed for help, and I pushed the dog while pinned under the customer, but the dog bit my hand." The attack then shifted to Mr. A. According to Mr. A, the dog owner did nothing while his wife tried to separate the dog.

Meanwhile, Mr. A's hand was severely injured by the fierce dog, covered in blood. His flesh was torn, leaving his hand in tatters, and he was given a four-week recovery period at the hospital. His wife, who was attacked on the head, was given a two-week recovery period. The police who arrived at the scene reportedly heard the dog owner claim that the substitute driver had assaulted first. Mr. A also expressed frustration with the police response. He said, "Even while being taken to the hospital, I requested the police to secure the vehicle's black box footage, but they refused because there was a dog in the car," expressing his anger.

Not only Mr. A but also his wife, who was attacked on the head, received a medical treatment period of two weeks.
[Photo by Online Community 'BobaeDream']

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Fortunately, the black box in the vehicle following Mr. A's wife might be accepted as evidence. Mr. A said, "Not only are my wife and I terrified of dogs, but we have also lost trust in people and the police," adding, "The psychological damage is immense, and I am at a loss on how to resolve this. I desperately need help."

Netizens responded to the post with strong reactions such as, "We need to secure nearby CCTV footage as soon as possible," "How can they refuse to secure black box footage just because there was a dog?" "Hire a lawyer immediately," "Dogs that bite people should be euthanized right away," and "The owner, not the dog, should be severely punished."

One of the 'dangerous dogs' defined by law, the Rottweiler. The photo is not related to the specific content of the article. [Photo by Pixabay]

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From 2018 to 2022, dog bite incidents have exceeded 2,000 cases annually. In response, the government mandated fierce dog liability insurance in February 2021. However, three years after this mandate, the subscription rate remains below 70%. Considering that some fierce dogs may be unregistered due to owner circumstances, the actual subscription rate is expected to be even lower.

Accordingly, starting at the end of April, the government announced that fierce dog owners who fail to properly manage their dogs in elevators, hallways, and other indoor common areas will face fines of up to 3 million won. On the 5th, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs announced a legislative notice for amendments to the Enforcement Decree and Enforcement Rules of the Animal Protection Act, which include fierce dog management details. This amendment is a subordinate regulation detailing the Animal Protection Act amendments effective from April 27, including fierce dog management provisions.

The law defines 'fierce dogs' as five breeds: Tosa Inu, Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Rottweiler, and their hybrids. It also includes dogs designated as fierce dogs based on temperament evaluations if they pose a risk to people or animals. Those intending to raise fierce dogs must obtain a breeding permit from the city or provincial governor under the 'Fierce Dog Breeding Permit System.'

Whether permission is granted is decided within 120 days after application, considering the dog's risk level. If breeding is denied, the applicant can request the local government to take the animal. Even if permission is granted, if the fierce dog attacks and injures or kills a person or animal, the breeding permit may be revoked. If revoked, the fierce dog may be humanely euthanized.

Additionally, the amendment includes restrictions on fierce dogs' indoor use to prevent dog bite accidents. Fierce dog owners must restrict their dogs' movement by carrying them or holding the collar's nape when using indoor common areas such as elevators and hallways. Violations will incur fines: 1 million won for the first offense, 2 million won for the second, and up to 3 million won for the third and subsequent offenses.

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