Story By: John Feng, Sub Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Asia Wire Report
Video Credit: AsiaWire
This footage allegedly shows the manager of a pet hotel beating a tiny caged dog that has been howling because it was homesick.
The dog was reportedly lonely and had been howling for its master, causing the pet hotel manager who is in his underpants as if he has just been roused from his sleep to lose his temper.
The incident was captured on CCTV in Taichung City’s West District, which is in West Taiwan, at just before 3:30am local time on 17th September.
The CCTV footage shows the pet hotel owner and manager, who has not been named, storming into the room where the Bichon Frise is being kept in a crate.
He appears to stamp on its head before proceeding to pin the dog to the floor, causing it to howl in fear and pain.
A second dog stands outside the crate watching the incident unfold, with the manager shouting muttering phrases such as “How long are you going to cry for?” and “Quiet! Quiet! Quiet!”
Ms Yun, owner of the white dog, revealed that she was forced to leave her pet in the establishment due to work engagements.
She was assured that her dog’s separation anxiety would not be a problem, and that she could monitor its progress through the pet hotel’s CCTV feed.
Ms Yun said she enquired about her dog the following day and became suspicious when the hotel owner claimed her pet had been noisy the night before.
When asked whether he had struck the pooch, the owner said: “No, but I restrained it. I don’t know if you’ll consider that hitting.”
An inspection of the footage shows an altogether different story.
According to Ms Yun, the hotel owner has apologised and claimed he was only concerned the dog would disturb his neighbours.
The pooch suffered no obvious external injuries but has been “traumatised” by the event, she added.
She said it was her first experiencing using a pet hotel, and that the Bichon Frise is her first ever dog.
The video has since been handed over to the city’s Animal Protection and Health Inspection Office, whose director, Lin Ju-liang, told local media the manager’s actions constitute animal abuse.
The hotel owner could be fined between 15,000 and 75,000 TWD (390 and 1,950 GBP) for the breach of Taiwan’s Animal Protection Act, and he will be summoned for questioning.
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