Feeder crushes puppies to death while mother dog watches

(ECNS) – An online post revealed that a feeder at a dog shelter in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, executed seven newborn puppies to death by smashing them to the ground in front of the mother dog, sparking anger among netizens, the local Qianjiang Evening News reported.

According to photos posted by Bayueweiweiyang, a middle-aged man smashes the puppies one by one against a marble step, while their mom, a ginger-haired dog, watches helplessly from a cage.

The local urban management committee responded that the staffer surnamed Feng sometimes put the dogs down for "convenience" before the dogs were put down by the shelter.

Feng has been removed from his post, the committee added.

The mother dog is still at the shelter, but it will be put to sleep in a few days, according to a staffer at the shelter.

The dog and its puppies were abandoned by its owner in a nearby village and were sent to the shelter by local urban management staffers.

A staffer at the committee explained that according to regulations, stray and unhealthy dogs in the city are to be put down.

But that explanation did not pacify netizens' anger. Most said the shelter should have been a refuge for stray dogs, but it became more of a slaughter center. And some said as a shelter, it should treat dogs ethically and humanely.

The committee responded that the shelter has developed comprehensive regulations about the treatment of dogs, and they will follow those regulations.

The dog shelter planned to be open to the public by September or October.