In Daejeon, a disaster message instructing immediate evacuation was sent out as 70 guard dogs were reported to have escaped. However, in reality, only three small dogs had escaped, triggering unnecessary panic among residents due to a false report by a neighbor prompting the local district office to send out the disaster message.
TJB reporter Jeon Yujin’s coverage.
This is the disaster message sent by Daejeon Dong-gu Office at 10 a.m. It stated that 70 guard dogs had escaped from a dog farm, but it turned out to be a false report. The actual number of escaped dogs was only three small dogs, and by the time the police arrived, the dog owners had already captured all the escaped dogs.
This place was not a dog farm but a regular farm where about 30 dogs, including Jindos and small dogs, were raised behind fences. The dogs often escaped, causing complaints from nearby residents. When three of our dogs dug up the fields, the field owner who was displeased falsely reported that 70 dogs had escaped.
[Neighbor: The dogs came out and wandered around, damaging the fields… The neighbor next door also fought with the dog owner, and the neighbor on the other side fought too.]
The false report led to confusion as police and firefighters responded unnecessarily, and the disaster message sent by the district office added to the chaos. Although the report claimed that the dogs had escaped, it exaggerated the situation by using the term “guard dogs,” instilling fear, and despite the actual number being only 3, the report was sent out as if 70 dogs had escaped.
[Neighbor: Kids called saying the dogs were out, mom, their friends cautioning to be careful.]
The Dong-gu Office expressed regret for causing confusion among residents through the disaster message, and stated that they would consider legal actions such as filing a complaint for obstruction of official duty against the initial false reporter.
The friction between residents over dog breeding led to an absurd commotion involving false reports and errors in the district office’s disaster message.
(Video coverage: Yoon Sanghoon TJB)