Puppy seriously wounded after owner bound its muzzle with rubber band ‘to stop it barking’

Puppy is left with serious wounds after cruel owner put a tiny rubber ring around its muzzle to ‘stop it barking’

  • The rubber ring was apparently wrapped around the dog’s muzzle several times
  • It was then abandoned on the road before being rescued by an animal lover  
  • Deep, bloody scars and bruises were seen on the dog’s face as a vet treated it  
  • Came after a Chinese scholar urged authorities to have an animal protection law 

A baby poodle has been seriously wounded after its owner apparently put a tight rubber band around its muzzle several times in an attempt to stop it from barking.

The puppy, about 40 days old, was abandoned with its muzzle bound on a road in northern China and found by an animal lover who shared the story with media.

The rubber ring was so tightly wrapped around the tiny dog’s mouth it had cut into its skin and caused the dog to bleed, according to a vet who treated the pooch. 

The puppy's last former had put the ring around the dog's muzzle to stop it barking, an animal lover said

A vet shows the black rubber ring after removing it from the baby poodle’s face. The puppy’s last former had put the ring around the dog’s muzzle to stop it barking, an animal lover said

‘It is okay if you don’t like the dog, but don’t harm it and leave it alone,’ the animal lover who found the pooch condemned the dog’s previous owner to local video news site Pear.

It is understood that the poodle has been adopted by the animal lover and is recovering from the horrific ordeal. 

The identity of the dog’s last owner remains unknown. 

The incident took place in the city of Liaoyang in northern China’s Liaoning Province. It came after a Chinese politician and scholar last week urged the central government to set up a law to protect pet dogs.  

While China has legislation safeguarding land-based and aquatic wildlife, it currently lacks any laws to protect animal welfare or prevent cruelty towards animals.

Previously, Chinese pet owners in Chengdu were seen bringing their dogs to an unlicensed vet to have the animals’ vocal cords removed in the street because they were fed up with them barking.

Deep, bloody wounds are seen on the poodle's face after a vet removed the rubber band from its muzzle

It was abandoned by its last owner in Liaoyang city after being cruelly bound

Deep, bloody wounds are seen on the baby poodle’s face after a vet removed the rubber band from its muzzle. It was abandoned by its last owner in Liaoyang city after being cruelly bound

Guo Changgang, dean of Shanghai Institutes of International Studies from Shanghai University, said China should establish a relevant law to protect companion animals, especially pet dogs, as soon as possible. 

Mr Guo submitted the proposal to the central government last Tuesday in Beijing during the most important political gathering of the country known as the Two Sessions.

Mr Guo, who was a local representative at the meeting, said pet dogs were friends to mankind and were loyal to their owners – whether the owners are normal residents, police officers or rescuers. 

‘Therefore pet dogs are not ordinary animals, livestock or assets, but creatures capable of giving strong emotional support,’ the scholar argued. 

Just last week, Chinese scholar Guo Changgang urged the central government to set up a law to protect companion animals especially pet dog during a major political meeting

Just last week, Chinese scholar Guo Changgang urged the central government to set up a law to protect companion animals especially pet dog during a major political meeting

Before Mr Guo, animal activists and legal experts in China had already submitted two draft laws to the country’s authorities in a bid to put a stop to wide-spread animal cruelty in the country. Both laws are still pending for approval.  

It’s been estimated that between 10 and 20 million dogs are slaughtered for meat in China annually. According to China’s state-run Wenhui News, some 70 per cent of them are stolen pets.  

Culprits often use poisonous darts to steal or kill pet dogs, but few have been arrested and punished – partially due to the lack of animal protection laws.

The controversial annual Yulin Dog Meat festival is still taking place every year on summer solstice despite the protest from celebrities and animal lovers across the world.   

Many more small animals are subject to cruelty in China in day to day life. 

Early last year, a golden retriever was beaten to death by a policeman on a street in front of shocked pedestrians including children in the city of Changsha.

Harrowing footage emerged online showing the dog getting chained to a road barrier and beaten by an officer with a wooden club repeatedly.

Local police bureau claimed the police officer was carrying out his duty of preventing citizens from getting injured by the ‘out-of-control’ dog.

The officer was later detained for five days.  

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