crime

Guide dog stabbed while walking with owner

43 Comments

Police in Saitama Prefecture are looking for the person who stabbed a guide dog while it was with its 61-year-old visually-impaired owner in Saitama.

The incident has received a lot of media coverage since details were released this week. The owner of the dog was quoted by media as saying he has been afraid to leave his home since the incident, TBS reported.

According to police, the dog, an 8-year-old male Labrador Retriever named Oscar, boarded a train with his owner at JR Urawa Station at around 11 a.m. on July 28. The owner told police he got off the train at JR Higashi-Kawaguchi Station, bought some items at a convenience store and then went to the office where he worked. A colleague noticed the dog bleeding.

Surveillance camera footage from the convenience store showed blood on Oscar, leading police to believe that the dog was either stabbed on the train or after leaving the station, TBS reported.

Police said there were three stab wounds on Oscar's body but none went through the vest he was wearing. Guide dogs are trained not to bark lest they distort their owners' sense of direction. Oscar did not bark during the attack, police said, adding that it is difficult to pinpoint the exact scene of the crime.

Since the incident was publicized on NHK and other networks on Thursday night, the Internet has been buzzing with comments from angry citizens saying the crime was unforgivable, considering what guide dogs do.

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43 Comments
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I saw the wound on this poor dog on the news and I was furious. Hope they catch this person ASAP.

11 ( +9 / -0 )

If the stabbing is true then police should feed that guy to hungry lion.

8 ( +8 / -1 )

Despicable. Objectively, I know that there are many worse crimes occurring, but that is just really low.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

Some of the stuff that happens in the world genuinely leaves me speechless. It's hard not to just want to beat this person to a sticky pulp.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

My wife cried all night because of this news, she was so upset about it, and concern about poor Oscar... I just wish i could find the criminal and make him/her suffer what Oscar went through. Only to think that this could may very well happen to my boy... gets me even more upset.

Two weeks has passed since I knew of this... I really they catch the person who did this.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

This one is a uniquely dispicable act and hopefully the loon responsible is caught quickly.

7 ( +7 / -1 )

There are some subhumam scum wandering about... stabbing a guide dog? A docile, harmless Labrador. What's wrong... couldn't he find a cat to kill? Pieces of filth like this need locking up. The poor dog's owner was lucky he wasnt the target.

Don't trains have CCTV on them?

-8 ( +8 / -15 )

There are some seriously mentally sick people running around freely in the public.

5 ( +7 / -1 )

This is low, even for Saitama. I hav no doubt it was some middle-aged/older man who claims to hate "bad manners on trains", and includes having a dog as one of them. One of those butters who scream about kids being loud in a park or en route to school. He won't be found--too much of a coward... one who stabs a seeing eye-dog. hope the dog recovers and the owner, too.

5 ( +7 / -3 )

Just sick on so many levels. Torturing the guide dog of a blind guy? Really now. I hope they catch that perp ASAP

4 ( +3 / -0 )

I got 4 thumbs down? Do people just thumb me down out of hand without actually reading what I said?

Anyway, I stand by what I said... this piece of filth needs to be caught before he attacks another animal... or a human next time.

-3 ( +4 / -7 )

Witnesses? Camera footage? Catch it quick.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

In Japan the man if caught will only be charged with property damage. The laws need to be changed.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

@smith

This is low, even for Saitama.

Where it happened is irrelevant. It's a disturbing incident, let's just hope that Oscar will be OK.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

Jesus!!! Saitama goes from bad to worse. Poor dog and the owner couldn't even resist!!!

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

They walk among us. I hope the cops catch this one.

Thunderbird2: "I got 4 thumbs down?"

Could be something to do with your "couldn't he find some cats to kill?"

5 ( +6 / -1 )

They do indeed walk among us and it is those of us who witness such things and do nothing that allow these bad things to continue to happen. I hope some witnesses come forward.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

In Japan the man if caught will only be charged with property damage. The laws need to be changed.

I really think so too. Oscar is a better creature than the culprit or many of us.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Thunderbird2

I got 4 thumbs down?...this piece of filth needs to be caught before he attacks another animal

In a previous comment you said

couldn't he find a cat to kill

has a cat less life value than a dog, be consistent if you want thumbs up!

6 ( +6 / -1 )

Serrano... my cat comment was sarcasm... not a suggstion that the nut goes and kills cats. Grief. Saitama is one of the places where cats are killed by nutters, this poor dog was attacked in Saitama... hence my comment about being unable to find a cat to kill, so attacked a dog.

Why am I even explaining this?

-10 ( +1 / -10 )

What a coward that would stab a guide dog?

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Who does this kind of crap? Really? Damn some people or sick!

2 ( +3 / -1 )

For pete's sake... for the last time I am not saying cats are less important than dogs. I am saying this nutter... oh what's the point...

-6 ( +2 / -8 )

Stay on topic please.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

@thunderbird

Saitama is one of the places where cats are killed by nutters,

seriously ?

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Wow, this is an all-time low. The owner didn't even know it happened until someone told him. Imagine how he must feel after finding out. I'd be afraid to go out again if I was him after such an incident happen. So brave and loyal of the dog for not making a noise after being stabbed 3 times. Best wishes to the person to be able to go out again. Person who did it is inhumane.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

You, the Guilty one, better hope you are not caught. The dog lovers will surround you and stick you with sharpened bamboo poles.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Don't believe I've ever heard of such a thing happening before in any country anywhere.

A guide dog is about as sacrosanct as it gets.

Some real twisties in our midst.

So sad.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

It is times like this, I lose hope in humanity. What's wrong with these people? If and when they catch this individual, I hope the drop him in the deepest and darkest hole they can find!!

1 ( +1 / -0 )

If I were the judge, I would make him pay all vet costs plus a 300,000 yen fine, and then make him do 40 hours of community service work...at a minimum. (Probably have him undergo some psychiatric therapy too.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

What the duck?? Why would anyone do this at all. Makes no sense at all!!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

This is why I sleep with my window and door locked. My Japanese wife is always saying how safe Japan is... Yeah safe from someone who has intent or a reason to harm...

Killers in this country have no reason, making them unpredictable and more of a threat. NEVER ever let your guard down in this country.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

The perpetrator of this cowardly attack - whatever their age or gender - should be named and shamed, and publicly flogged at Saitama Stadium. IF they are ever found. Get well soon, hero-dog Oscar ! I will donate some cash to the Guide Dog Association now.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Just when I thought I couldn't read anything more bizarre/despicable, I come across this article.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

A seeing eye dog is not just a pet dog. It is effectively a "part" of the handicapped person. This should not be treated as a "property damage crime" but as an assault on the person. Considering the location of he crime there must be witnesses and a reward should be made available for information leading to an arrest.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

I'm pretty sure someone must have witnessed this... the poor dog would have been walking oddly, clearly in pain from the stabbing and blood loss. Whoever did this is clearly a very cold hearted person.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

What a disgraceful act. Can they really train guide dogs not to bark even if they are stabbed? Amazing if guide dogs can be THAT tolerant of sadistic human behavior.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Poor dog! ganbare Oscar!!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

That is one sick person. I hope he falls on some train tracks somewhere.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

I have a service dog and she is like one of my children, who ever would do this to a service dog needs swift punishment.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

@smithinjapan you have no doubt about many things that you otherwise have absolutely no background info about! So mow onwards with your prejudicements!

3 ( +3 / -0 )

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