Dog abuse video goes viral

A video showing dogs being beaten by security guards at Shanghai Jian Qiao University has gone viral, sparking criticism of brutal behavior and a discussion about campus security and the treatment of such animals.

The video was posted on the WeChat account of the university’s journalism school – “Jian Qiao, Jian Qiao, I’m News.” The post said that some students found three men beating stray dogs with a hammer near the library on Saturday and posted video clips on WeChat.

In one clip, two men wearing helmets are seen carrying a bag while a woman asks them: “Why do you beat the dogs? Why do you beat them?” The men did not answer.

Another shows one man beating the bag while the other two look on. There are screams from the animals in the bag.

Zhou Yuhua, director of the university’s security department,  was quoted as saying the university had received reports of students and teachers being injured by stray dogs and cats every year and it would invite professional teams to take the animals away regularly. But he also said the treatment shown in the video was improper.

The university released a statement saying it had asked the company which employed the guards to suspend them and they were now under investigation. The university said it felt sorry, apologized for the incident and promised punishment for those responsible. 

A university official told Shanghai Daily that since September at least 32 students had been treated at the campus clinic for injuries caused by stray dogs when they were feeding them. Seven of the incidents happened in November.

“But we have never asked security guards to kill the animals,” he said.

The incident sparked an online controversy over the treatment of stray dogs on campus. Many students condemned the guards' behavior, while others called for better security administration.

“I’m afraid of dogs,” was one online comment. “I’m against the brutal way to beat them to death, but don’t want to see so many stray dogs in the university either.”