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, βAβ dropped offΒ her 4-year-old dog “Byul” (“Star”)Β 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 tryΒ to pick up her dog. However,Β theΒ director ofΒ theΒ hospital attempted to pass off anotherΒ dog to A as Byul.
A wasΒ dumbfoundedΒ and asked the director to tell herΒ theΒ truth.Β The directorΒ then claimed, βI left the doorΒ open for aΒ few moments, and Byul escapedΒ during that time.β
A reportedΒ herΒ missing dog toΒ theΒ police and distributed posters offeringΒ aΒ $4,500 (5,000,000 KRW) rewardΒ with hopes of finding Byul. However,Β herΒ hope turned toΒ 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 directorΒ released the followingΒ statement to A’s family:Β βAllΒ ofΒ thisΒ was aΒ huge mistake, and I made a terrible decision due to the personal struggles I was going through at that time. I will neverΒ be able toΒ forgetΒ this incident and will regret this for the rest of my life.β
Immediately afterwards, A expressedΒ herΒ distress on Instagram, stating βThis person, who insisted thatΒ another dogΒ was Byul, and then insisted Byul ran awayΒ because the door wasΒ leftΒ open, isΒ nowΒ asking for forgiveness?β βIβm still experiencing an indescribable amount ofΒ mental anguish, and all I want is toΒ have Byul at my side again.β
Currently, A is receiving counseling and mental treatment atΒ a hospital due toΒ this terrible ordeal.
*Images used in courtesy of A’s Instagram
Original articleΒ by Gwang Su Park
Translated by Juna Moon
