[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Sumi] The parties involved are at odds over an incident in which a pet dog bit a neighbor who trespassed without permission and was subsequently beaten to death. The dog's owner reported the neighbor to the police for trespassing and violating the Animal Protection Act, while the neighbor claimed to be the victim, arguing that they were bitten by the dog.
According to a report by Yonhap News on the 27th, Mr. A, who runs a guesthouse in Gangneung, Gangwon Province, was baffled when he recently received a call from the police asking him to visit the station for an investigation related to a case of injury due to negligence.
Mr. A's story is as follows. On the 23rd, as usual, Mr. A was spending time with his pet dog without locking the door. Around 2:30 p.m., neighbor Mr. B suddenly opened the door to Mr. A's house and came in. According to Mr. A, Mr. B was intoxicated at the time.
Startled, Mr. A's dog bit neighbor Mr. B. Mr. A hurriedly escorted Mr. B out and moved the dog to the master bedroom to separate them. However, Mr. B followed into the bedroom where the dog was and repeatedly assaulted the dog with fists and feet before fleeing. Ultimately, the dog, covered in blood, died on the spot.
Afterward, Mr. A reported neighbor Mr. B to the emergency number 112 for property damage. Yonhap News also reported that Mr. A plans to gather evidence related to trespassing and violations of the Animal Protection Act to submit to the police.
However, Mr. A is also undergoing police investigation because the incident of the dog biting the neighbor was reported as an injury due to negligence case.
Netizens who learned of the story mostly criticized neighbor Mr. B's trespassing. They explained that the dog's actions were a legitimate defense to drive away an intruder who appeared in its territory and to protect its family.
One netizen pointed out, "Even though it is clearly self-defense, the perpetrator (Mr. B) is acting brazenly." Another netizen emphasized, "The psychological shock Mr. A suffered from losing his dog right before his eyes is unimaginable. The victim and perpetrator must not be reversed."
Meanwhile, the police plan to summon the parties involved soon to investigate the circumstances of the incident and then decide on the exact charges to be applied.
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