Abused Pet Dog and Caused Disturbance at Township Office... Man in His 60s Fined 5 Million Won

Indicted for Violating the Animal Protection Act
Lifted Dog with Both Hands and Slammed It on the Ground Four Times

Gwangju District Court building.

A man in his 60s who abused his pet dog by slamming it on the ground while intoxicated and caused a disturbance by spitting at a public official in a government office has been sentenced to a fine.

According to the legal community on February 2, Presiding Judge Kim Jiyeon of the Gwangju District Court Criminal Division 6 sentenced Mr. A (65), who was indicted for violating the Animal Protection Act and the Minor Offenses Act, to a fine of 5 million won.

Mr. A was charged with lifting his pet dog with both hands and slamming it on the ground four times without any particular reason while intoxicated in an alley in Yeonggwang County, South Jeolla Province, on the afternoon of May 13 last year.

On the same day, while heavily intoxicated, he also entered a nearby township office, lay down on the floor, and caused a disturbance by spitting at paramedics and township office officials who responded to a report.

The presiding judge stated, "The defendant caused a disturbance at a government office while intoxicated and committed acts of abuse that inflicted physical pain on a defenseless pet dog, which is of a serious nature. In particular, he has multiple prior convictions related to violence and committed the crime during a suspended sentence period."

However, the judge added, "The sentence was determined in consideration of the fact that the defendant has admitted his wrongdoing and is making efforts to improve his behavior, such as being hospitalized to treat alcohol dependence syndrome."