Dog Found Shivering in Restaurant Refrigerator Sparks 'Animal Abuse' Controversy in Busan

Stored with onions, pickles, and other ingredients
Animal rights group: "This could cost a life"
"Serious issue for food safety as well"

A dog is sitting inside the ingredient refrigerator of a pizza shop in Busan. Online community capture

Public outrage has erupted after a photo was shared by an animal rights group, showing a dog sitting inside a refrigerator used for storing ingredients at a pizza restaurant in Busan.

On July 31, the animal rights organization CARE posted a message and photo on social media titled, "Dog in the refrigerator, an incident at a pizza restaurant in Busan." In the photo, the refrigerator contains ingredients such as onions and pickles along with the dog, which appears to be huddled due to the cold.

CARE stated, "It may be hard to believe, but a Maltese dog was found shivering, locked inside the refrigerator. Although it might have been intended as a way to help the dog escape the heat, the dog was trembling," and added, "Even if the intention was to let the dog cool off temporarily, if this habit is repeated and the dog is forgotten even once, it could quietly die inside the refrigerator from hypothermia and breathing difficulties."

They further pointed out, "There is also a serious issue regarding food safety. The mere fact that an animal and food ingredients are in the same space could constitute a violation of the law," and urged, "Please stop this behavior immediately before we reveal the identity of the restaurant. While today it may be a way to escape the heat, tomorrow it could become a freezer that takes a life."

Netizens who saw the post responded with comments such as, "I couldn't believe my eyes," "This person is unfit to raise animals or run a business," and "This should be reported to the district office's hygiene department."