A high school student in Greater Kaohsiung who saw a man abusing a dog last month, braved intimidation and reported the case to the Kaohsiung Concern Stray Animal Association, leading to the alleged attacker’s arrest.
“It’s an innocent puppy. The attacker’s deed is reprehensible. We must teach him a lesson and give the puppy justice,” said the student surnamed Wu (吳).
According to Wu, he was riding his motorcycle on Oct. 30 on Changchun Road in Dashu District (大樹) and stopped to take a call on his mobile phone when he saw a man pick up a rock and strike the dog.
Photo: Tung Han-ni, Taipei Times
Wu said he yelled at the alleged attacker, surnamed Lin (林), denouncing his action.
A few days later, Lin allegedly approached Wu’s sister, tried to intimidate her and told her to tell her brother to “keep quiet” about what he saw.
Wu said he was upset about what happened, but did not know whom to report the matter to.
On Wednesday, he chanced upon a poster by the association showing an injured puppy and asking for leads to the crime, as well as offering a reward of NT$30,000.
Wu contacted the association and later that day, led police and officials from the Greater Kaohsiung Animal Protection Office and the association to Lin’s residence.
In his defense, Lin said he was randomly throwing rocks when the puppy passed by and one of the rocks hit it.
Police charged Lin with violation of the Animal Protection Act (動物保護法).
A veterinarian said the dog’s wounds had been treated, but an injured bone in its skull would be hard to treat.
“The puppy is lucky to be alive, but it needs care and must not be placed with other dogs” because that may lead to further injury, the vet said.
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