Supreme Court: "Jeonsal Method" of Slaughtering Dogs with Electric Rod Violates Animal Protection Act

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] The so-called 'electric slaughter method,' which involves inserting an electric skewer carrying 300 to 500 volts of current into a dog's mouth to slaughter it, has been ruled to violate the Animal Welfare Act.

The Supreme Court's 3rd Division (Presiding Justice Min Yoo-sook) on the 9th upheld the original ruling that sentenced Lee Mo (68), a dog farm operator prosecuted for violating the Animal Protection Act, to a fine of 1 million won with a two-year probation period.

The court stated, "The electric slaughter method significantly infringes on the legislative purposes of the Animal Protection Act, which are the protection of animal life and ensuring safety, and it poses a substantial risk of violating public interests such as fostering respect for animal life. Therefore, the ruling of the appellate court that classified this as a cruel method contains no legal error."

A Supreme Court official commented, "This ruling faithfully implements the legislative purpose of the Animal Protection Act, which is the protection of animal life and the cultivation of public sentiment regarding it."

Lee was prosecuted for slaughtering about 30 dogs annually between 2011 and 2016 at his dog farm slaughter facility by applying an electric skewer to the dogs' mouths to electrocute them.

In court, Lee argued, "I used a method that immediately rendered the animals unconscious so they would not feel pain, so it is not a cruel method prohibited by the Animal Protection Act."

The first and second trials accepted Lee's claim and acquitted him.

However, the Supreme Court did not consider the social conventions specific to dogs and sent the case back with a guilty verdict.

At the retrial held at the Seoul High Court, the court stated, "The defendant did not use a 'humane slaughter method' that immediately renders the animal unconscious when slaughtering, thereby preventing or minimizing pain," and sentenced him to a fine of 1 million won with probation.