In August 2021, a video described online as a student abusing a dog in a washing machine spread on Douyin, Xiaohongshu and other platforms. Shangqiu police later said Lei Mouyang had put a corgi into a washing machine and let it churn for about one minute after being bitten while feeding the dog. His friend Li Mouyang filmed the video and added claims about burning the dog’s mouth, pulling its teeth and bleeding eyes; police said those extra claims were not substantiated. The corgi was reported to have no burns, intact teeth and normal vital signs. Lei was criticized and educated; Li was administratively detained for five days for fabricating abusive wording and causing serious social impact.

A video spread from social platforms

From August 17, 2021 onward, police in Shangqiu’s Economic Development Zone received multiple reports that a student from a local college had posted or livestreamed videos of animal abuse on Douyin, Xiaohongshu and other platforms.

Southern Metropolis Daily reported that a small corgi appeared in washing-machine water in the video. The public anger came from the obvious danger and fear caused by putting a small dog into a machine and starting it, not from normal bathing or care.

What police confirmed

According to the August 24 police notice, Lei bought the corgi at a pet market in July 2021 for 650 yuan and kept the dog in a work dormitory. On August 17, after being bitten on the right index finger while feeding the dog, he put the dog into the washing machine and churned it for about one minute before taking it out.

Police said Li filmed the video and added words claiming that the dog’s mouth had been burned, its teeth pulled and its eyes bleeding. Those additional claims were not confirmed. The dog had no burns, complete teeth and normal vital signs.

Clarifying false claims does not erase real harm

This archive separates the confirmed fact of washing-machine churning from the unverified wording added to the video. The latter should not be written as established fact.

But correcting exaggeration does not excuse the confirmed act. Anger after being bitten cannot justify putting an animal into a washing machine. A corgi can panic, choke, be struck by water and suffer unpredictable harm.

Outcome and legal gap

Police criticized and educated Lei. Li received five days of administrative detention for fabricating abusive words online and causing a serious social impact.

The case shows a common gap in animal-harm incidents: when there is no clear property loss, public-safety offense or public-order disruption, the animal’s fear and pain are often difficult to address directly.

Why this case is included

This is not the bloodiest case, but it is typical: it has official confirmation, media coverage, case images and a need to distinguish confirmed facts from online exaggeration.

Recording the corgi means recognizing that animals deserve protection before death as well as after. Treating a living animal as punishment or entertainment deserves clear criticism.

Timeline

• July 2021: Lei bought a corgi at a pet market in Shangqiu and kept it in his work dormitory.
• August 17, 2021: After being bitten while feeding the dog, Lei put the corgi into a washing machine for about one minute; Li filmed and posted the video with abusive wording.
• After August 17, 2021: Shangqiu police received multiple reports and opened an investigation.
• August 24, 2021: Police issued a notice: Lei was criticized and educated; Li was administratively detained for five days.

Public sources

• 新浪河南转载平安商丘开发区通报
• 南方都市报/搜狐转载：网传一学生洗衣机里虐狗，调查结果公布
• 人民网河南频道：警方通报“商丘一学生被指用洗衣机虐狗”事件
• 中国网：警方通报“学生用洗衣机搅洗柯基犬”
• 星岛头条：放哥基入洗衣机搅洗，狗主道歉