Retriever trapped in a car for 7 years, the reason behind being left in 50-degree heatwaves

The story of 'Yeong-ung-i', a golden retriever who lived inside a narrow and hot car for a long period of 7 years, has been revealed. According to a video from You and Me [24-hour UN Animal Medical Center], Yeong-ung-i was left abandoned inside a car where the internal temperature soared to over 50 degrees due to direct sunlight, even when the external temperature reached 30 degrees during a heatwave.

7 years of neglect, a retriever for whom a narrow car was the whole world

From the moment he was born, Yeong-ung-i's life never included stepping onto the living room floor of an ordinary home. For the first 3 years of his life, he lived at the entrance of an apartment because of shedding fur, and after being given up for adoption, he wandered before eventually having the inside of a car become his living space. Despite being a large breed retriever, for 7 years, the owner kept Yeong-ung-i confined in the car, citing reasons such as "he is too big" and "he is afraid of stairs, so I cannot bring him home."

Yeong-ung-i's condition at the time of rescue was severe. Living in the hot and humid car, his belly and groin were chafed and covered in scabs, and his paw pads were cracked and bleeding. He also suffered from severe heatstroke and hip arthritis. In the video, contrary to the owner's claim that Yeong-ung-i is afraid of stairs, he is shown climbing the stairs on his own by taking the hand offered by a temporary foster parent after the rescue, demonstrating that Yeong-ung-i had not received proper training and care during that time.

Animals are property, the reality of rescue sites where windows cannot be broken

The reason Yeong-ung-i was able to endure extreme pain without resisting seems to be due to the unique personality of his breed. According to the video, Golden Retrievers have strong patience and a nature of liking people, so even in a situation where another breed would have resisted to survive, he endured the pain while only waiting for his owner to return.

Legal limitations during the rescue process were also revealed. Under current law, animals are classified as the owner's 'property' or 'objects' rather than living beings. Due to this, even if rescuers discover an animal in critical condition, they can actually be punished for property damage if they break someone else's car window to save the animal. Because of this, at rescue sites, rather than immediate rescue, they must go through the process of persuading the owner, who is the abuser, to obtain a written waiver of ownership.

Currently, Yeong-ung-i is recovering while learning what life as an ordinary pet is like at a trainer's house. Through the case of Yeong-ung-i, who endured inside a car for 7 years, the video suggests how much of a desperate dream an ordinary living room floor and a comfortable environment is for a pet dog.