There are numerous unauthorized dog-breeding areas across the country in which the owners overbreed their animals, creating excess supply that eventually results in some of the dogs being abandoned. (image: Pexels)
SEOUL, May 12 (Korea Bizwire) – “Don’t buy domestic pets. Adopt them. And please look after your animals” reads a slogan used by a Korean animal rights group.
The Korean pet industry has grown bigger than ever, to a two-trillion-won industry, but the increasing popularity of pets has also led to a bigger problem; animal cruelty.
Dogs are being ‘produced’ in the same way that factories manufacture goods, and many domestic pets suffer from human ignorance and indifference.
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A great deal of pet-buyers purchase animals without seriously considering the consequences or the responsibilities that follow, which leads to owners giving up on their animals.
Some of the abandoned female dogs end up back in the market, and are used for breeding until they reach their limits. They’re eventually resold to restaurants to be slaughtered and served to customers.
The Korean public is appealing for stricter legal punishment and regulations against animal cruelty, and animal rights activists are encouraging people to adopt animals rather than to buy them.
A great deal of pet-buyers purchase animals without seriously considering the consequences or the responsibilities that follow, which leads to owners giving up on their animals. (image: Pixabay)
Netizens are pushing the government to forcefully shut down the so-called puppy mills. There are numerous unauthorized dog-breeding areas across the country in which the owners overbreed their animals, creating excess supply that eventually results in some of the dogs being abandoned.
Current animal protection laws state that animals must be protected from birth until death, but this doesn’t necessarily guarantee animal welfare since the law allows a single person to supervise up to one hundred animals. This means that a family of four can breed up to 400 animals, and there is no legal basis for intervention.
Adopting animals rather than purchasing them is another proposition.
“If there’s no demand, then there’s no supply. Let’s start adopting animals,” said one of the netizens.
Other developed countries have embraced legislation that protects animal rights. Germany guarantees animal rights in its constitution, and the EU and US are making moves to limit domestic pet trading.
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“We need to create a social environment that helps people to acknowledge and respect animals and their rights to healthy lives,” said professor Seong-han Kim from Sookmyung Women’s University.
By Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
The dog meat trade is evil and just wrong. Frankly, it gives all Asians a bad rap. It is past time for this horrific cruelty to be stopped. It is a barbaric and disgusting plight for companion animals to endure.
why doesn’t Korea act like other compassionate countries and take dog meat off of their menus?
“If there’s no demand, then there’s no supply. Let’s start adopting animals,” said one of the netizens.
Please stop this
Dogs are highly intelligent and social animals……they should not be used as a source of food….nor should they be abandoned when the owner becomes “bored” with them. Animal rights is a controversial topic: but all can agree basic rights of care and food and a home for both dogs AND CATS is a major responsibility of humans.
Stop dog slaughter they are our companions not our food!
Thank you for this interesting but upsetting post Lina. This can only feed the horrific dog and cat meat trade. Would it be possible for you to write an article about the torture and cruelty to the animals? I live in Australia and am doing what I can to spread awareness of the situation but I believe the change will come among the young people in Korea. It looks like it will be very slow however and in the meantime the terrible cruelty continues. Thank you, Jane
Thank you Jane, for your interest in our article.
We’ve just uploaded another article that provides further insight to Korea’s animal cruelty issue at hand. Hope it gives you a more comprehensive understanding.
http://koreabizwire.com/the-shocking-truth-about-koreas-dog-factories/55826
Ne menj el mellettük! Adj esélyt a jobb életre!
No to all forms of animal cruelty!!!!
Asian abnormality and psychopathology towards voiceless animals should end. We are in the 21st. century. Where are ethics hidden in Asian countries???
South Korea is a savage, terrorist country. They are a thousand times worse than North Korea
NO PODEMOS SEGUIR ASÍ, NI VIVIENDO ATROPELLANDO LOS DERECHOS DE LOS ANIMALES DE FORMA TAN GROTESCA Y BRUTAL. NO PODEMOS SEGUIR PAGANDO LAS CUENTAS DE TODOS AQUÉLLOS QUE HACEN MAL LAS COSAS Y NO VAMOS A TOLERAR MÁS LA CRUELDAD DE LA MISERABLE Y SINIESTRA INDUSTRIA. YA SOMOS MUCHOS Y SEREMOS CADA DÍA MÁS PERSONAS QUE CAMBIAMOS NUESTROS ESTILOS DE VIDA EN BIENESTAR DE LOS ANIMALES.
The dog/cat meat trade is barbaric and cruel and must be stopped now!!!! If these people can’t afford to feed their families, then they should stop having children!!! Savage people should not breed!! There is no excuse for torturing and eating innocent animals, there is plenty of information on the internet so that people should know how wrong and evil this practice is. The world is watching and judging you!!!