Xuan Huong Ward Police - Da Lat are verifying and clarifying the case of a man using a stick to hit an Alaska dog in Lam Vien Square.
According to the testimony, because he was annoyed that the dog did not follow the order, the man used a stick to hit the animal.
Notably, the dog was brought to the square to take pictures with tourists. Meaning that the animal is used as a tool to make money and when it does not "cooperate", it must be punished.
Beating dogs in public places not only shows rude treatment of pets but also creates an ugly image in front of people and tourists.
Lam Vien Square is one of the typical public spaces of Da Lat, welcoming a large number of people and tourists every day.
Tourists come here to visit, play and feel the beauty of a city known for its gentleness and friendliness. They cannot witness the scene of an animal being beaten just for not following a photo command.
Therefore, the incident is no longer a private matter between the owner and their dog. It directly affects the tourism environment and the image of Da Lat.
It is worth mentioning that this is not the first time dogs have been beaten to serve photography activities at Lam Vien Square.
Previously, at the end of August 2024, a similar incident also caused public outrage for a long time. At that time, the functional agencies of Da Lat City (old) verified, handled and requested to stop using dogs for business and photography in the square.
Two years later, a similar incident happened again. This shows that the previous handling only solved a specific case, not ending the activity of bringing animals to the square to make money.
Therefore, this case cannot just stop at functional agencies inviting the man to work, reminding or handling the behavior appearing in the clip.
Functional agencies need to check the conditions for raising and caring for dogs; and at the same time determine how many cases are using animals for business in this area.
Functional agencies recommend that tourists not take photos with animals, not rent services and not assist in the use of animals for business is also a necessary move. When there are no more payers, this service will no longer have a reason to exist.
However, we cannot just rely on the awareness of tourists. Managing public spaces, preventing spontaneous business activities and protecting the image of destinations is first and foremost the responsibility of local authorities.
Da Lat wants to build an image of a civilized and friendly destination, so civilization must also be shown in the way people treat animals.
We cannot let animals continue to be turned into tools for making money, let alone let them be beaten right in the middle of a famous tourist destination.
