If China is under global pressure from animal rights groups because of the ongoing Yulin Dog-Meat Festival, Taiwan has its own dog torture viral video.
Thenewslens reported that a Kaohsiung City councilor posted on Sunday an 80-second video on YouTube which showed a white dog hanging from a chain around its neck. After about 40 seconds, the animal died, but while the dog was gasping for breath, the voice of Taiwanese soldiers could be heard. They were shouting, “Don’t become a stupid dog in your next life.”
The dog was tied because Chen You-tsai, a squad leader, told his troops he did not want to see the stray puppy around the Marine Corps camp in Shoushan, according to Wang Jin-chun, director of the Kaohsiung Concern Stray Animal Association. Before they tied the puppy, Chen You-tsa, Chang Feng-yi and Hu Chia-wei hit the animal using wooden sticks.
The posting of the video led the association and the Kaohsiung City Animal Protection Office to begin a probe. Initially, Chang admitted to the offense and to make an official statement about the incident, but he changed his mind and said he would no longer cooperate with the investigation, while the military would conduct its own investigation on the incident after it stopped the City Animal Protection Office’s probe for not going through the proper procedure.
Express reported that after netizens criticized the cruelty, top Taiwanese defense officials apologized for the incident which President Tsai Ing-wen – a known animal lover – described as cruel. Nine soldiers have been disciplined for the torture of the dog.