CHEONAN, Jan. 30 (Korea Bizwire) – A dog found alive in a garbage bag in Cheonan, South Chungcheong Province, died less than a day after being saved by a local animal rescue team.
The female Cocker Spaniel was first discovered by a passerby near a trash can on Sunday and was sent to local authorities before succumbing to cold temperatures and other health problems, according to Cheonan’s abandoned animal rescue center.
“I heard a dog moan as I walked past the garbage disposal area. When I looked closer, I saw a dog left alive in a garbage bag,” the person who reported the dog to the police said.
The dog was left breathing heavily out in the cold, while bundled up in a plastic garbage bag placed inside a cardboard box in a possible inhumane disposal by her owner.
According to the local rescue team, the dog was thought to be over 10 years old, and could have been suffering from stomatitis, putting on alert local animal rescue centers.
Despite the efforts of local police and animal rescue workers, the dog died hours after being discovered left outside over the weekend, when temperatures dropped down to nearly minus 10 degrees Celsius.
“Dumping a living dog is a clear violation of the animal protection act. The dog could have frozen to death outside in this cold weather,” a local rescue worker said.
The Cheonan animal rescue center is set to file a request for a police investigation into the abandonment of the dog, and has urged witnesses to come forward with any information.
Hyunsu Yim (hyunsu@koreabizwire.com)