[Exclusive] "Shotgun Blast Took Off His Mouth" 3-Year-Old Shepherd Bleeding After Hunter's Gunfire

Guardian: "Ralph Shot with a Shotgun, This Friday Is the Final Hurdle... Only Hope Is That He Survives"
Hunter Mr. A: "Fired in Self-Defense Feeling Threatened"

Ralph bleeding after being hit by a shotgun fired by Mr. A. / Photo by guardian provided

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Seohyun] "There was absolutely no apology!", "I felt my life was threatened. It was self-defense!"

In Goheung-gun, Jeollanam-do, a man shot a dog living in a kennel in a factory yard with a gun, leading to a legal dispute. The dog's owner claims that the dog usually does not show aggression toward people. On the other hand, the man who fired the gun insists that he acted because he felt his life was in danger.

On the 6th, a post titled "Please punish the hunter who shot a 3-year-old Shepherd with a gun" was uploaded on the Blue House National Petition board. The petitioner, who identified himself as the guardian’s grandson, stated, "An unthinkable incident happened a few days ago at my grandmother’s house," and added, "‘Ralph,’ the Shepherd raised at my grandmother’s house, suffered a terrible accident."

According to the petitioner, around 2 p.m. on the 2nd, hunter A fired a hunting shotgun at Ralph from about 25 meters away at the factory where the guardian works. The shotgun used by A fires about 40 to 60 small pellets at once.

The petitioner expressed outrage, saying, "Ralph was hit in the mouth by the pellets, and about half of his mouth was destroyed," and "The place where Ralph was injured is still soaked with his blood."

Regarding the circumstances of the accident, the petitioner said, "A claimed that Ralph threatened him," but pointed out, "If Ralph had threatened him, the pellets would have hit Ralph’s face or chest head-on, but Ralph was hit on the right side of his mouth, with almost all the flesh gone."

He continued, "Ralph would never threaten a person. He is a dog trained for about a year and a half," and "Since he was young, Ralph only follows his guardian grandfather and has never harmed anyone; he is a timid dog."

He added, "A took Ralph to a place without CCTV and shot him, then after checking whether Ralph was dead or alive, came to my grandmother’s house and confessed to shooting," and criticized, "We asked A to take the dog to the hospital for treatment, but he only wanted to settle the matter."

Ralph’s guardian, Mr. B, told Asia Economy, "There are seven CCTVs near the factory, but unfortunately, the one covering the accident site was not working, so we could not obtain footage of the incident," and said, "The family has been going through sad days, barely eating, but A did not apologize even during the on-site investigation. We have filed a complaint and hired a lawyer."

B added, "Ralph’s condition is critical. The hospital said this coming Friday will be a crucial day," and lamented, "Due to burns, the flesh is not healing and is rotting, and they said they might have to amputate bones." He emphasized, "We have raised Ralph with more care than for a grandson. The hospital recommended euthanasia, but the family only hopes Ralph will survive and stay with us."

Immediately after the accident, Ralph was moved to an animal hospital in Gwangju, but since treatment was not possible there, surgery was performed at the Veterinary Medical Center of Jeonbuk National University.

In response to Mr. B’s claims, Mr. A insisted it was self-defense. A explained, "While heading toward the reservoir to hunt ducks, I heard dog barking several times," and "Just as I was about to give up hunting and leave, the sound came very close, and when I turned around, a dog was right in front of me. Feeling my life was threatened, I fired to repel the dog in self-defense."

He also claimed, "Contrary to the guardian’s statement, the accident site was 50 meters from the warehouse, and I did not aim directly at the dog." He added, "I have continuously expressed my apologies to the guardian," and emphasized, "The speculation that I shot the dog to sell it as dog meat is completely unfounded."

Meanwhile, the police visited the scene on the 7th, completed the complainant’s investigation, and are investigating the detailed circumstances of the incident.