Man in His 30s Booked by Police for Abusing Girlfriend's Dog by Swinging It by the Leash

Public Outrage Grows After Video Circulates
14-Year-Old Dog Under Emergency Isolation and Treatment

Recently, a video showing a man abusing his pet dog in Busan spread online, sparking public outrage. On August 8, Yonhap News reported that the police have booked the man on suspicion of violating the Animal Protection Act and have launched an investigation.

Abused Puppy 'Saguni'. Busan Animal Love Road Cat Protection Coalition

According to the Busanjin Police Station and other sources on August 8, police booked a man in his 30s at around 8 p.m. on August 5 on charges of animal abuse (violation of the Animal Protection Act) in an alleyway in Busanjin-gu, Busan. The man was seen grabbing his dog’s leash and shaking it violently while out for a walk, causing the dog's body to be lifted off the ground and spun several times, as witnessed by people nearby.

This scene was captured on video by a woman passing by, and after being shared online and through social networking services (SNS), it fueled public anger. When the woman confronted the man, asking, "What are you doing?" he finally put the dog down and reportedly explained that he was "disciplining" the animal.

After the incident became known, animal protection organizations also took action. The Busan Animal Love Road Cat Protection Coalition, together with the city of Busan and the police, visited the man's residence on August 7 to conduct an in-person investigation and checked the condition of the abused dog at the scene.

The abused dog, a 14-year-old named 'Saguni,' was confirmed to be under the care of the man's partner. A veterinarian from the city of Busan who was present at the scene examined the dog's health and suspected patellar luxation, underweight, and heart disease, concluding that two weeks of emergency isolation were necessary. The dog is currently separated from the abuser and receiving treatment at an animal hospital.

The animal rights group Care stated on SNS that "evidence suggests this case goes beyond simple abuse and constitutes a crime," adding that "it is highly likely the suspect is not the legal guardian, and it appears that repeated violence has occurred in the past."

Under the current Animal Protection Act, abusing an animal without justifiable reason can result in up to two years in prison or a fine of up to 20 million won. The police are continuing their investigation to determine the exact circumstances and substantiate the charges.