An adult Shiba Inu had its jaws firmly locked around the neck of a black cat. The cat struggled incessantly, but the Shiba Inu refused to let go. The cat's struggles grew weaker and weaker. The Shiba Inu's owner—a middle-aged man—only gave the dog a perfunctory tug on the leash and patted its neck, making no attempt to stop the dog's attack on the cat. Ultimately, the black cat was mauled to death by the leashed Shiba Inu.
Starting August 10th, the video circulated widely in WeChat groups, Moments, and other online platforms in Zigong City, Sichuan Province. The scene of a black cat being mauled to death by a Shiba Inu drew countless netizens' sympathy and sorrow. The dog owner's actions were further criticized by netizens as ineffective intervention or even negligence, sparking outrage and condemnation. The middle-aged man was quickly identified by netizens as Liu, the captain of the Dengguan Squadron of the Yantan Brigade of the Zigong City Traffic Police Detachment.
On August 13, a reporter from Cover News confirmed with the Traffic Police Detachment of the Zigong Municipal Public Security Bureau that the public security authorities had suspended Liu from his duties and ordered him to properly handle the aftermath and eliminate the negative impact.
On August 10, a video lasting more than one minute circulated in the WeChat group of the Nanhujun residential community in Zigong High-tech Zone.
A yellow and white adult Shiba Inu was tightly gripping a black cat by the edge of a green belt. The cat struggled, but the Shiba Inu wouldn't let go. A middle-aged man in sportswear bent down and grabbed the Shiba Inu, but the dog ignored him. The man appeared helpless.
The cat's struggles weakened, and the Shiba Inu continued to shake it while biting it. A neighbor filming the incident urged the man to stop the Shiba Inu, but the man claimed he "couldn't control it." The neighbor accused the man of "not stopping it at all." While the Shiba Inu was firmly gripping the cat, the man only tugged on the leash and lightly tapped the dog's neck a few times.
The video quickly drew the attention of residents in the community. One resident, claiming to be the cat's owner, said the cat that was bitten to death was the mother of four newborn kittens. The four kittens were crying for their mother, but tragically, she was killed.
As the video spread, the black cat's tragic fate evoked sympathy from many cat lovers, while also sparking outrage and condemnation of the dog owner. Netizens condemned the middle-aged man's act of allowing his dog to kill the cat and quickly identified him as Liu, the captain of the Dengguan Squadron of the Yantan Brigade of the Zigong Traffic Police Detachment.
The video was posted on multiple online platforms, including Douyin, sparking a heartwarming campaign to care for and adopt kittens that have lost their mothers.
The owners' committee's apology on behalf of the residents has sparked controversy.
According to multiple sources interviewed by Cover News, as the online public opinion spread, the Zigong Traffic Police Detachment immediately launched an investigation and ordered Liu to actively handle the aftermath and eliminate the negative impact.
Late on August 11, the head of the neighborhood committee posted a "notice" in the residents' group, stating that the dog owner had come to the committee to explain the whole situation, "expressed remorse and self-blame for the consequences, and offered his deepest apologies to the residents!"
The report stated that the cat's body had been disposed of harmlessly by a kind-hearted resident, the four kittens had been adopted by animal lovers, and the dog owner had agreed to cover their care costs. The dog involved in the incident had also been given a new home and was guaranteed not to appear in the community again.
This "notice" has once again sparked dissatisfaction among homeowners, who believe the dog owner should personally apologize and that the homeowners' committee should not overstep its bounds. A local writer even wrote an article condemning the incident, arguing that "the authorities should step in and take action."
This public outcry has had a significant impact on the local police, especially the traffic police system. It is reported that on the day the outcry erupted, the Zigong Municipal Public Security Bureau instructed the traffic police detachment to conduct a swift investigation and take appropriate action. The Zigong Municipal Traffic Police Detachment subsequently made a preliminary decision to suspend Liu from his duties.
According to the Zigong Municipal Public Security Bureau, this incident has drawn great attention from the bureau's top leaders, who have demanded a thorough investigation and serious handling of the matter, and called for lessons to be learned to strengthen the management of police officers outside of their eight-hour workday.
On August 13, a reporter from Cover News contacted the person involved in the incident, attempting to understand the cause of the incident, his views on the public opinion it sparked, and his attitude towards the decision made by the higher-level public security authorities. However, Liu refused to cooperate.
In this incident, the dog owner was unable to stop the Shiba Inu from beating others, raising concerns among netizens about how to control their dogs while walking them to prevent them from posing a threat or harm to others.
Veterinarians remind everyone that dogs must be leashed when walking them. However, only by using a leash correctly can safety be ensured. Pet medical researchers explain that because animal behavior is unpredictable, keeping the leash in your hand while walking the dog is the only way to truly guarantee safety.
Li Shengzhong, a pet medicine researcher at Guangdong Vocational College of Science and Trade, said that dogs will not feel uncomfortable on a leash; it's just a matter of habit. It is essential to ensure that the leash is securely tied, otherwise it will easily come off.
Researchers say that regardless of the size of the dog, some small dogs, under the protection of their owners, feel they can attack any animal or person. The correct way to handle a dog leash is to hold it again from the opposite direction for double safety. If the dog suddenly pulls, the owner should always keep the leash in their hand. The owner should pay attention to controlling the length of the leash and, if necessary, use both hands to control it. Dog leashes must be handled by adults with sufficient strength, and dog owners should practice handling their dogs before walking them.
Guo Gang, director of Sichuan Fangce Law Firm, said: According to the video footage, the dog owner Liu's behavior has constituted a violation of the law.
Guo Gang said that according to Article 30 of the Animal Epidemic Prevention Law of the People's Republic of China, "Units and individuals who keep dogs shall, in accordance with regulations, regularly vaccinate them against rabies and apply for registration with the local dog registration authority with an immunization certificate issued by an animal clinic."
When taking dogs out in public, owners must ensure they wear dog tags and are leashed as required to prevent dog bites and the spread of diseases.
In this case, it is necessary to investigate and verify whether Liu's dog was vaccinated against rabies as required by law, whether it was registered with the dog registration authority, whether it wore a dog tag while being walked, and whether the leash met the standards. These details need to be handled in accordance with relevant laws and regulations after investigation and verification by the public security authorities.
Article 109 Anyone who violates the provisions of this Law and causes the spread or outbreak of zoonotic infectious diseases shall be subject to severe punishment in accordance with the law.
Anyone who violates this law and whose conduct constitutes a violation of public security administration shall be subject to public security administration penalties in accordance with the law; if the conduct constitutes a crime, criminal liability shall be pursued in accordance with the law.
Anyone who violates this law and causes harm to the person or property of others shall bear civil liability in accordance with the law.
"The dog owned by Liu killed a nursing kitten, causing property damage to the kitten's owner. Liu should bear civil liability in accordance with the law. The kitten's owner has the right to file a civil claim for compensation against Liu."
