An animal hospital in Seoul has found itself embroiled in controversy after the attempted cover up of the accidental euthanasia of a dog left under the hospital’s care.
On May 31, โAโ dropped offย her 4-year-old dog “Byul” (“Star”)ย at the animal hospital to be taken care of while she left town on a trip. Returning from this trip on June 3, A headed to the animal hospital to tryย to pick up her dog. However,ย theย director ofย theย hospital attempted to pass off anotherย dog to A as Byul.
A wasย dumbfoundedย and asked the director to tell herย theย truth.ย The directorย then claimed, โI left the doorย open for aย few moments, and Byul escapedย during that time.โ
A reportedย herย missing dog toย theย police and distributed posters offeringย aย $4,500 (5,000,000 KRW) rewardย with hopes of finding Byul. However,ย herย hope turned toย despair she eventually found out that the animal hospital had mistakenly euthanized Byul on the first day and then cremated the dog to get rid of the evidence.
Once the truth came to light, the veterinary directorย released the followingย statement to A’s family:ย โAllย ofย thisย was aย huge mistake, and I made a terrible decision due to the personal struggles I was going through at that time. I will neverย be able toย forgetย this incident and will regret this for the rest of my life.โ
Immediately afterwards, A expressedย herย distress on Instagram, stating โThis person, who insisted thatย another dogย was Byul, and then insisted Byul ran awayย because the door wasย leftย open, isย nowย asking for forgiveness?โ โIโm still experiencing an indescribable amount ofย mental anguish, and all I want is toย have Byul at my side again.โ
Currently, A is receiving counseling and mental treatment atย a hospital due toย this terrible ordeal.
*Images used in courtesy of A’s Instagram
Original articleย by Gwang Su Park
Translated by Juna Moon
