The area where the dogs are kept. — Photo thanhnien.vn

LÂM ĐỒNG — The Đà Lạt City Police have launched an investigation after videos showing the abuse of an Alaskan dog went viral on social media.

The dog's owner, L.S.L., who resides on Lê Văn Tám Road in Ward 10, confirmed to the police that he had purchased five Alaskan dogs for VNĐ300 million (US$12,000) around May this year. He intended to use the dogs for an illegal photography service at Lâm Viên Square, renting them out to tourists for photo opportunities.

L. rented a pigsty in Cầu Đúc Alley, Ward 10, Đà Lạt City, to house the dogs.

Last month, L. bought an additional reddish-brown Alaskan dog named Bôn for VNĐ25 million (US$1,000). P.T.T.T, a 39-year-old woman from Ward 9, contributed VNĐ10 million (US$400) to partner with L. in the business.

T. tasked her 13-year-old son, T.T.Q., a student, with managing the dog for tourists during his summer vacation.

On July 20, while Q. was holding Bôn for tourists at Lâm Viên Square, the dog bit him on the hand. In response, Q. kicked the dog and later confined it to a cage in Cầu Đúc Alley, where he repeatedly struck it with a plastic pipe, 27mm in diameter and about 80cm long.

At the beginning of this month, L. took over managing the dog after returning T.'s US$400, as Q. could no longer handle the animal. L. stated that due to the dog's aggressive behaviour, he was retraining it and had paused the business.

L. also informed the police that he was unaware of the incident involving Q. being bitten, which reportedly occurred between July 20 and 23, until the videos surfaced online.

The police are continuing their investigation into the case. — VNS