Owner beats 4-month-old puppy 70 times on street, claims it was 'for training'

A man who repeatedly beat a 4-month-old puppy on a public street has been booked by police.

According to KBC Gwangju Broadcasting, the male owner, identified only as A, struck his 4-month-old dog more than 70 times over 15 minutes on a street in Sansu-dong, Dong-gu, Gwangju, at around 11 p.m. on Aug. 3.

In footage that has been made public, A is seen standing with his leashed puppy at a crosswalk, apparently waiting for the signal, before suddenly raising his hand to threaten the dog. He then yanked the leash hard and struck the puppy on the head multiple times. The dog cowered on the ground, unable to resist.

A passerby, identified as B, intervened, saying, "What did the dog do wrong? Please stop hitting it." A briefly halted the assault, but after crossing the street began striking the puppy's head again.

B told KBC the beating was beyond anything that could be called discipline. "The puppy kept whimpering," B said. "The assault continued after we crossed. He was drunk, smoking a cigarette, and kept hitting it on the head just as hard."

When police arrived in response to B's report and began their investigation, A left the scene without the dog, and B took the puppy in for temporary care. The dog was later returned to A, who asserted ownership.

Police have booked A on charges of violating the Animal Protection Act and are continuing their investigation. A told investigators that he struck the dog "for training purposes" and that it did not constitute abuse.