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There are times when we report terrible animal cruelty, but in cases where there are no witnesses, the carcass of an animal is often the only evidence.

As in revealing the cause of death, the use of 'autopsy' has increased significantly in cases of suspected animal abuse, and we looked at the domestic animal autopsy environment.



Let's take a look at reporter Han So-hee's report and talk about it together.



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In June of last year, a Jindo dog was found shot dead on a farm in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province.



Suspect A, who surrendered himself, claimed that the dog ran into him and shot him with an air gun in self-defense.



There were no eyewitnesses, so it was almost admitted as is, but an autopsy revealed a lie.


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The shape of the exit hole through which the bullet pierced the body was the decisive clue.



[Lee Kyung-hyeon / Researcher, Agriculture, Forestry and Livestock Quarantine Headquarters: If there is a contact surface, the edge of it shows burn marks like this.

These parts are like where the dog was leaning or lying on the ground...

.]



Due to the ejection hole shape that cannot occur while standing on all fours, we concluded that it should be regarded as firing a dog when it was lying down, and not in self-defense.



The court accepted the autopsy report as evidence, and the crime of damage to special property was recognized.



In the case of killing about 10 cats at a fish farm in Pohang, Gyeongsangbuk-do, the fact that even the cats in the mother's womb were damaged and the number of victims were confirmed through an autopsy.



Although the number of autopsy requests along with the number of animal abuse investigations is increasing rapidly, there is currently no specialized autopsy agency in Korea, so the Agriculture, Forestry and Livestock Quarantine Headquarters is taking over.


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On the day of the interview, an autopsy was performed on a cat suspected to have died from poisoning.



[Kim Jong-ho / Veterinary Researcher, Agriculture, Forestry and Livestock Quarantine Headquarters: There seems to be no muscle or other bleeding under the skin.

Damage or abuse due to external force cannot be confirmed.]



Although it was initially judged as a natural death through a visual examination through an autopsy, these tissues are sent to the laboratory once again to determine whether or not there is a disease.



Since there is only one place in the country, you have to come to the Gimcheon Quarantine Headquarters even in the metropolitan area.



[(He came from Sosa Police Station, Bucheon.) Yes, this is it.]



[Lee Myung-heon / Head of Animal Disease Control Division, Agriculture, Forestry and Livestock Quarantine Headquarters: Since our quarantine headquarters is working with forensic medicine while performing autopsies and disease diagnosis for industrial animals, absolutely There is a shortage of manpower.]



In response to the increasing number of animal cruelty investigations, it is necessary to train veterinary forensic personnel and build infrastructure.



(Video coverage: Kim Seung-tae, video editing: Jeon Min-gyu, CG: Seo Seung-hyun, screen provided: Animal Rights Action Kara)



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<Anchor>



Reporter Han So-hee is here.



Q. What about overseas cases?



[Reporter Han So-hee: Yes, even when we went to the coverage, we were able to meet the police who came from Bucheon, Gyeonggi-do to the Gimcheon Quarantine Headquarters to take an autopsy.

Carcasses of animals are difficult to send by courier, so we have no choice but to drive 7-8 hours round-trip to split the time to investigate.

Moreover, the staff here are usually doing other quarantine-related tasks, so it is very difficult to concentrate.

In other countries, there are institutions specializing in autopsy for the investigation of animal damage cases. In Italy, there is the National Veterinary Forensic Center, and in the Netherlands, there is the National Center for Animal Cruelty.

The United States also has a cooperative system with veterinary forensic science centers and universities.]



Q. Sentencing standards needed



[Reporter Han So-hee: Yes, animal cruelty crimes are increasing and there is a growing awareness that severe punishment should be given, but the Supreme Court does not yet have a sentencing standard. .

As a result, the sentences vary according to the courts.

He was sentenced to six months in prison for the brutal murder of a cat on the Gyeongui Line forest road, and it was also controversial in the case of 'Animal Edition Room N,' where dozens of cats were killed and photos were shared.

It is a time when we need not only facilities for uncovering abusive crimes, but also the establishment of sentencing standards.]