The motionless body of a white dog drags from behind a black car driving down a southern Thai road in a heart-wrenching clip inflaming passions today.
Since the graphic clip was published online by another motorist who saw it, the incident has drawn scrutiny from animal rights advocates, media outlets and citizens far and wide – with many unconvinced by its owner’s explanation and calling for criminal prosecution.
“The dog still had to scream before it died! I don’t believe you when you say you had no idea what was happening. Who would believe that you tied up your dog up to your car? Don’t you have trees, a pole or a fence that could have worked better? I hope what goes around comes around!” Noctis Lucis Caelum wrote yesterday.
Making things much worse were images showing that, after the dog was finally detached from the car, its battered corpse was simply abandoned in the road, where it caused a 67-year-old motorcyclist to crash, causing serious injuries.
Responding to the public pillorying, the dog’s human companion, who lives in Surat Thani province, apologized for being negligent and causing the unnecessary accident, while expressing grief over Wednesday’s death of the dog named Kanom Jeen, or fermented rice noodles.
“Our family feels extremely sad and guilty to see our beloved dog die in such a brutal way. … Our whole family really loved this dog, we have a total of four at home. I cannot stand looking at the photos because they’re too graphic. I know how much it must have suffered, but it truly was an accident,” the self-identified dog owner said in a statement made published by animal rights group Watchdog Thailand.
The unidentified woman goes on to explain that the dogs usually roam free on their family farmland. When an unexpected guest arrived, Kanom Jeen was tied to a car with the assumption the guest would think to untie it before departing.
That obviously didn’t happen, so when auntie rode off into the sunset, Kanom Jeen went with her – from the end of a chain.
“I understand the public’s reaction because the pictures from the accident are really brutal. I’m the dog’s owner, and I can’t even stand looking at it,’ the pet owner wrote. She added that her family was having difficulty not only dealing with the death of a beloved pet but also the full ferocity of public rage.
“I know this accident occurred due to our family’s carelessness, but nobody understands me,” she wrote.
Those words met a mixed reaction online. Some saw it as a genuine accident and said people should ease up; others remained unswayed by the apology.
“What are you trying to do with that statement? Are you trying to get a lesser punishment or actually telling the truth? Nevertheless, the dog is dead, police should be informed to investigate this thoroughly,” Facebook user Puntuch Tunnork wrote yesterday in reply to the apology.
Much of the criticism targeted the decision to tie the dog to a guest’s car in the first place and questioned why its likely howling didn’t draw attention.
Not to mention leaving Kanom Jeen on the side of the road like garbage.
“Even if what you’re saying is true, why did you leave the dog’s body in the street? I would never do that! I would collect my dog’s body to bury it properly. I hope the dog has gone to a better place, I feel so bad for it,” Bravo Bunny Maya wrote in reply.
If you really, really need to see the awful video that is a real day-spoiler, we’re not going to stop you.
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