"Trusted and Left Behind.." Repeated Pet Hotel Accidents, Is There No Solution? [Kim Suwan's Animal Report]

Narrow Cage Escape Attempt Leads to Metal Bars Injury... Left for 14 Hours
Dog Returned with Bruises After Staying at Pet Hotel... Three Days of Abuse
U.S. Further Details Regulations on Custodial Services
Experts Say "Regulations for Custodial Service Managers Must Be Clear"

As incidents of dogs dying or getting injured one after another at pet hotels occur, there is a growing call to strengthen the qualification requirements for managers. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Suwan] Recently, as accidents involving dogs dying or getting injured at pet hotels have occurred one after another, calls for strengthening the qualification requirements for hotel operators have been growing louder. As the problems persist, the government has also stepped up management of pet service businesses, but there are criticisms that the effectiveness is lacking. Experts suggest that there are no clear legal regulations to resolve this issue and recommend institutional improvements.

Pet hotels are businesses that receive a certain fee from pet owners to take custody of their pets. Operators of such hotels have the obligation to take necessary measures to prevent the entrusted dogs or cats from being attacked by other animals and to continuously monitor their condition. They also have the duty to provide treatment or notify the owner to take appropriate measures if the pet is injured or falls ill.

The problem lies in the negligence of management and supervision by the hotel operators. As a result, accidents involving pets entrusted to pet hotels have been occurring repeatedly.

According to MBN on the 15th, a dog that was left for a 2-night, 3-day hoteling service at a pet hotel in Jinju, Gyeongnam, died due to the hotel's negligence.

According to reports, the accident occurred on the night of the second day after owner A left the dog at the pet hotel. Closed-circuit television (CCTV) installed inside the hotel captured the dog, left in a narrow cage, struggling to escape and getting pricked by the metal bars, showing signs of distress.

The dog, which struggled and cried throughout the night, eventually died after 14 hours. It was revealed that the hotel failed to fulfill its obligation to frequently monitor the dog.

The hotel admitted negligence, stating that they did not check the CCTV footage after leaving work, and apologized to the owner, but claimed that the compensation demanded by the owner was excessive and that they could not pay the full amount.

The owner plans to report the hotel operator to the police for violating the Animal Protection Act.

Photo by Yonhap News

Accidents involving dogs entrusted to pet hotels are frequent, and there have even been cases of animal abuse. In June, a dog left for three days at a pet hotel in Guri, Gyeonggi Province, returned with bruises, sparking controversy.

The dog returned from the hotel was unusually avoiding people and appeared lethargic. Suspicious, the owner took the dog to a veterinary hospital for examination, and after shaving its fur, confirmed that the dog’s entire body was covered in bruises.

Upon visiting the hotel and reviewing CCTV footage, it was confirmed that the hotel owner, Mr. B, was violently hitting and throwing the dog with a large stick.

At the time, owner Yoon Mo expressed in an interview with a media outlet, "There should be strict standards and procedures for profit-driven businesses entrusted with animal care. Globally and socially, and even in recent legal precedents, the dignity and rights of animals have greatly improved. As companion animals living with humans and considered family members, such acts cannot be justified and must not be repeated," expressing outrage.

As incidents related to pet care businesses continued, the government began strengthening management of pet service businesses in 2018.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs has tightened management standards for animal care businesses such as pet hotels, requiring facilities to have △CCTV recording devices △individual resting rooms for animals (cages can be substituted) △double doors and locks at entrances △separation and partitioning of animal hospital wards and animal care rooms △management according to weight and temperament △facilities for feeding food and water △and securing at least one caretaker per 20 dogs or cats. Additionally, caretakers must receive three hours of annual continuing education on animal business under the Animal Protection Act.

A pet dog using a pet hotel service. The photo is unrelated to specific expressions in the article. Photo by Yonhap News.

However, despite these measures, related accidents continue to occur, and the level of punishment remains low. This has led to calls for strengthening the qualification requirements for pet hotel operators, citing the ineffectiveness of current government management measures.

On the Blue House (Cheong Wa Dae) public petition board, petitions urging stricter regulations on animal care businesses have been posted one after another.

One petitioner argued that animal care workers should be disqualified from working in the same industry if they violate the Animal Protection Act by abusing animals and that harsher penalties should be imposed for such crimes. They also urged clear regulations on qualification requirements for animal care businesses.

Other countries strictly regulate pet hotels and caregiving services. In the United States, regulations related to caregiving services vary by state government, but generally require basic conditions such as facility licensing and obtaining operator certifications.

California was the first state in the U.S. to establish health and safety regulations (Health & Safety Code) for pet lodging facilities, specifying requirements for facilities caring for four or more dogs, cats, or other pets, including grooming services, hygiene standards, animal management requirements, and operator responsibilities. Facilities that do not meet these requirements cannot operate, and violations result in heavy fines and strong enforcement measures.

Experts suggest that the government should clearly specify regulations for animal care business operators.

Lee Wonbok, head of the Korea Animal Protection Association, said, "The issue of qualifications for pet care service managers has been continuously raised," advising, "A system is needed, such as creating nationally recognized qualifications." He added, "There should also be remedies in case of legal disputes," and "Introducing insurance to guarantee such issues could be one possible solution."