Abusive dog owner nabbed by netizens' efforts

Citizens took action after beating footage posted

Judge Park Yeon-sun of Yangsan City Court, Ulsan District, on July 31 found a dog owner to be in violation of South Korea's Animal Protection Law and sentenced him to two days' detention. In his summary trial judgment, Justice Park said, "the degree of abuse by the owner, as depicted in the visuals circulated through the internet, was excessive enough to disgust the ordinary public."

Disturbing images of a dog being kicked and whipped by its owner were posted anonymously and viewed by netizens. They decided to take action and, analyzing the footage, figured out that the abuse took place in the Yangsan area. Following a great deal of outcry posted on the web, police in Yangsan began investigating the case from the 17th of last month, found the owner, and indicted him without detention.

The owner, in his confession, said that the dog ruined his kitchen garden and he beat the dog in anger a few times to "teach him a lesson."