Guide dog stabbed while walking with owner


Police in Saitama Prefecture are looking for the person who stabbed a guide dog while it was with its 61-year-old visually-impaired owner in Saitama.

The incident has received a lot of media coverage since details were released this week. The owner of the dog was quoted by media as saying he has been afraid to leave his home since the incident, TBS reported.

According to police, the dog, an 8-year-old male Labrador Retriever named Oscar, boarded a train with his owner at JR Urawa Station at around 11 a.m. on July 28. The owner told police he got off the train at JR Higashi-Kawaguchi Station, bought some items at a convenience store and then went to the office where he worked. A colleague noticed the dog bleeding.

Surveillance camera footage from the convenience store showed blood on Oscar, leading police to believe that the dog was either stabbed on the train or after leaving the station, TBS reported.

Police said there were three stab wounds on Oscar's body but none went through the vest he was wearing. Guide dogs are trained not to bark lest they distort their owners' sense of direction. Oscar did not bark during the attack, police said, adding that it is difficult to pinpoint the exact scene of the crime.

Since the incident was publicized on NHK and other networks on Thursday night, the Internet has been buzzing with comments from angry citizens saying the crime was unforgivable, considering what guide dogs do.

© Japan Today

©2019 GPlusMedia Inc.

Login to comment

@smithinjapan you have no doubt about many things that you otherwise have absolutely no background info about! So mow onwards with your prejudicements!

3 ( +3 / -0 )

I have a service dog and she is like one of my children, who ever would do this to a service dog needs swift punishment.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

That is one sick person. I hope he falls on some train tracks somewhere.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Poor dog! ganbare Oscar!!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

What a disgraceful act. Can they really train guide dogs not to bark even if they are stabbed? Amazing if guide dogs can be THAT tolerant of sadistic human behavior.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

I'm pretty sure someone must have witnessed this... the poor dog would have been walking oddly, clearly in pain from the stabbing and blood loss. Whoever did this is clearly a very cold hearted person.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

A seeing eye dog is not just a pet dog. It is effectively a "part" of the handicapped person. This should not be treated as a "property damage crime" but as an assault on the person. Considering the location of he crime there must be witnesses and a reward should be made available for information leading to an arrest.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

Just when I thought I couldn't read anything more bizarre/despicable, I come across this article.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

The perpetrator of this cowardly attack - whatever their age or gender - should be named and shamed, and publicly flogged at Saitama Stadium. IF they are ever found. Get well soon, hero-dog Oscar ! I will donate some cash to the Guide Dog Association now.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

All these nutters walking around wanting to stab someone then when they get caught they say crap like " I wanted to know what it would be like to stab someone " etc.... I suggest you stab yourself if you wanna know how it feels , wankers...

1 ( +2 / -1 )

This is why I sleep with my window and door locked. My Japanese wife is always saying how safe Japan is... Yeah safe from someone who has intent or a reason to harm...

Killers in this country have no reason, making them unpredictable and more of a threat. NEVER ever let your guard down in this country.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

What the duck?? Why would anyone do this at all. Makes no sense at all!!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

If I were the judge, I would make him pay all vet costs plus a 300,000 yen fine, and then make him do 40 hours of community service a minimum. (Probably have him undergo some psychiatric therapy too.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

"Police said there were three stab wounds on Oscar’s body but none went through the vest he was wearing. "

Which means the culprit took the time and trouble to lift the vest and stab under it. This crime is truly despicable and I hope whoever did it is caught right quick and suitably punished or committed to a hospital for the criminally insane, as appropriate.

I'm not a particular animal lover and generally prefer to keep my distance from dogs but Oscar I want to heap with praise and doggy treats and virtual hugs for carrying on with his duties in spite of his wounds. What a wonder dog!

1 ( +1 / -0 )

It is times like this, I lose hope in humanity. What's wrong with these people? If and when they catch this individual, I hope the drop him in the deepest and darkest hole they can find!!

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Don't believe I've ever heard of such a thing happening before in any country anywhere.

A guide dog is about as sacrosanct as it gets.

Some real twisties in our midst.

So sad.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

You, the Guilty one, better hope you are not caught. The dog lovers will surround you and stick you with sharpened bamboo poles.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Wow, this is an all-time low. The owner didn't even know it happened until someone told him. Imagine how he must feel after finding out. I'd be afraid to go out again if I was him after such an incident happen. So brave and loyal of the dog for not making a noise after being stabbed 3 times. Best wishes to the person to be able to go out again. Person who did it is inhumane.

1 ( +2 / -1 )


Saitama is one of the places where cats are killed by nutters,

seriously ?

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Stay on topic please.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

For pete's sake... for the last time I am not saying cats are less important than dogs. I am saying this nutter... oh what's the point...

-6 ( +2 / -8 )

Who does this kind of crap? Really? Damn some people or sick!

2 ( +3 / -1 )

What a coward that would stab a guide dog?

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Serrano... my cat comment was sarcasm... not a suggstion that the nut goes and kills cats. Grief. Saitama is one of the places where cats are killed by nutters, this poor dog was attacked in Saitama... hence my comment about being unable to find a cat to kill, so attacked a dog.

Why am I even explaining this?

-10 ( +1 / -10 )


I got 4 thumbs down?...this piece of filth needs to be caught before he attacks another animal

In a previous comment you said

couldn't he find a cat to kill

has a cat less life value than a dog, be consistent if you want thumbs up!

6 ( +6 / -1 )

In Japan the man if caught will only be charged with property damage. The laws need to be changed.

I really think so too. Oscar is a better creature than the culprit or many of us.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

They do indeed walk among us and it is those of us who witness such things and do nothing that allow these bad things to continue to happen. I hope some witnesses come forward.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

They walk among us. I hope the cops catch this one.

Thunderbird2: "I got 4 thumbs down?"

Could be something to do with your "couldn't he find some cats to kill?"

5 ( +6 / -1 )

Jesus!!! Saitama goes from bad to worse. Poor dog and the owner couldn't even resist!!!

-1 ( +3 / -4 )


This is low, even for Saitama.

Where it happened is irrelevant. It's a disturbing incident, let's just hope that Oscar will be OK.

1 ( +4 / -3 )


3 ( +3 / -0 )

Witnesses? Camera footage? Catch it quick.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

I got 4 thumbs down? Do people just thumb me down out of hand without actually reading what I said?

Anyway, I stand by what I said... this piece of filth needs to be caught before he attacks another animal... or a human next time.

-3 ( +4 / -7 )

Just sick on so many levels. Torturing the guide dog of a blind guy? Really now. I hope they catch that perp ASAP

4 ( +3 / -0 )

This is low, even for Saitama. I hav no doubt it was some middle-aged/older man who claims to hate "bad manners on trains", and includes having a dog as one of them. One of those butters who scream about kids being loud in a park or en route to school. He won't be found--too much of a coward... one who stabs a seeing eye-dog. hope the dog recovers and the owner, too.

5 ( +7 / -3 )

There are some seriously mentally sick people running around freely in the public.

5 ( +7 / -1 )

There are some subhumam scum wandering about... stabbing a guide dog? A docile, harmless Labrador. What's wrong... couldn't he find a cat to kill? Pieces of filth like this need locking up. The poor dog's owner was lucky he wasnt the target.

Don't trains have CCTV on them?

-8 ( +8 / -15 )

This one is a uniquely dispicable act and hopefully the loon responsible is caught quickly.

7 ( +7 / -1 )

My wife cried all night because of this news, she was so upset about it, and concern about poor Oscar... I just wish i could find the criminal and make him/her suffer what Oscar went through. Only to think that this could may very well happen to my boy... gets me even more upset.

Two weeks has passed since I knew of this... I really they catch the person who did this.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

Some of the stuff that happens in the world genuinely leaves me speechless. It's hard not to just want to beat this person to a sticky pulp.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

Despicable. Objectively, I know that there are many worse crimes occurring, but that is just really low.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

If the stabbing is true then police should feed that guy to hungry lion.

8 ( +8 / -1 )

I saw the wound on this poor dog on the news and I was furious. Hope they catch this person ASAP.

11 ( +9 / -0 )

Login to leave a comment

Facebook users


Facebook Connect

Login with your JapanToday account

User registration

Articles, Offers & Useful Resources

A mix of what's trending on our other sites