NEWS AND COMMENT/OPINION: Please note that in the title I have referred to the ‘dog meat industry’ which means the public production and consumption of dog meat. The new law is hugely welcome by animal advocates but it concerns the public consumption and production of dog meat which means that people will still be able to kill and eat dogs in private (but what about general animal welfare laws?). Perhaps this isn’t a major issue. Comment: the reason for the ‘anomaly’ might be due to difficulties in enforcement.
This huge step as far as animal advocates in the West are concerned towards improving animal welfare in Asia was voted through by South Korea’s Parliament almost unanimously with 208 votes in favour, two abstentions and with no votes against. This indicates very strong support for the legislation.
The ban will stop restaurants serving dog meat and it will ban the breeding, butchering, distribution and sale of dogs for consumption. The law was passed by Parliament yesterday will come into force in 2027. Comment: that long delay to enforcement may be due to cultural sensibilities; to give the industry time to wind down.
The Korean Association of Edible Dogs has objected. Comment: their title implies that some dogs are inedible. A bizarre title if I may say so. Anyway, they will mount an appeal against the law. Comment: destined for failure. The group claims that there are 3500 dog breeding farms in South Korea with 1.5 million dogs supplying 3000 restaurants. The South Korean government say there are less.
Animal advocates have said for some time that most of the dogs killed for human consumption under the dog meat trade in South Korea were hanged or electrocuted. Comment: unmitigated cruelty. The industry insists that there have been improvements.
A spokesman for the Humane Society International said that, “We believe this ban marks a significant turning point in South Korea’s attitude to animal protection”.
They added that it was “testament to the passion and determination of our animal-loving public and politicians who reached a tipping point to consign this outmoded industry to our history books.” Comment: it is indeed outmoded. I hope other Asian countries realise this and include cat meat in any future bans.
Here here! I can hear the animal advocates shouting. There’s been pressure to end the dog meat industry in South Korea for a while and it is argued that President Yoon’s wife, Kim Keon-hee was instrumental in pushing for this law to be enacted as she is an animal and dog lover. The presidential family owned six dogs.
RELATED: 13-year mass poisoning of over 1000 stray cats in Daejeon, South Korea
And interestingly, about 25% of South Korean households have a pet dog, which begs the question as to how they could have accepted the dog meat industry for so long.
The government will subsidise farms and restaurants for their loss of business. Violations of the new law could result in a jail term of two years or a fine of 30,000,00 won (£17,875).
I can hear you shouting that there is an absence in this law. In legal jargon a ‘lacuna’. Why isn’t there a ban on cat meat as well? What happened to the cat? Why are they omitted? This seems to be a horrible example of speciesism and it is dissatisfying to notice this omission. There might be a good reason for it but right now I can’t see it.
Source: The Times 10th Jan 2023.
RELATED: Brilliant: dogs saved from a South Korean dog meat farm by Humane Society
