On the 25th, a dangerous Rottweiler killed a small dog on the street
"Increase penalties for not wearing muzzles" petition submitted to the Blue House
Experts say "Stricter penalties needed to improve owners' awareness of pets"
[Asia Economy reporters Seunggon Han and intern Yeonju Kim] A national outcry has erupted after a dangerous dog without a muzzle bit and killed a small dog during a walk and then attacked a person trying to intervene. Calls are growing louder to strengthen the punishment regulations for 'failure to wear a muzzle.'
According to multiple media reports, on the 25th, in an alley in Eunpyeong-gu, Seoul, a dangerous Rottweiler without a muzzle bit and killed a small Spitz dog.
At the time of the incident, the Rottweiler, which was being walked without a muzzle, suddenly lunged at the Spitz. The Spitz tried to escape by running behind its owner but was bitten by the Rottweiler and collapsed on the spot. It is also reported that the Spitz’s owner was injured while trying to stop the attack.
As the incident became known, voices criticizing the lack of proper punishment cases for failure to wear leashes and muzzles have risen, pointing out that regulations on pet dog management are merely superficial. A petition urging strong punishment for the owner of the dangerous dog was also posted on the Blue House National Petition Board.
According to the current Animal Protection Act, wearing a leash is mandatory when taking a pet dog outside. However, muzzle-wearing is only mandatory for five breeds: Dosa dogs, American Pit Bull Terriers, American Staffordshire Terriers, Staffordshire Bull Terriers, and Rottweilers.
If a person dies due to a dangerous dog, the owner faces up to three years in prison or a fine of up to 30 million won; if a person is injured, up to two years in prison or a fine of up to 20 million won.
However, under current law, criminal punishment is only possible if the victim is a person. In cases where a pet dies, it falls under property damage, but even then, punishment requires proof of intent.
Given this situation, calls to strengthen the necessity of 'wearing muzzles' and to hold owners accountable with stricter punishments are intensifying.
On the 29th, a petition titled "Rottweiler dog bite death incident, please prevent the offending owner from keeping dogs" was posted on the Blue House National Petition Board.
The petitioner, who claimed to be a witness to the accident, stated, "The offender (Rottweiler owner) has long been letting the large dangerous Rottweiler roam in a residential area without a muzzle or even a leash."
The petitioner explained, "This is already the fifth accident with the same pattern. After the first dog death incident, the owner put a muzzle on the dog, but it lasted only a few months before the dog was walked again without a muzzle and only with a leash."
They added, "The problem is that the owner cannot control the dog but still does not hold the leash and neglects the dog. Is it reasonable that such a deadly dog lives in front of the house and the owner cannot be punished at all?"
The petitioner strongly urged, "People who want to raise dangerous dogs should be required to obtain a license unconditionally, and if a dangerous dog is walked without a muzzle, a fine of over 10 million won should be imposed."
As of 5 a.m. on the 2nd of last month, this petition had 52,984 supporters.
Also, a video in which animal trainer Hyungwook Kang emphasized the aggressiveness of Rottweilers and the importance of training is being revisited.
On August 14 last year, on the YouTube channel "Kang Hyungwook’s Bodeum TV" during the "Subam Live" segment, Kang explained the characteristics of the breed in response to a question, "I brought a dangerous Rottweiler from the countryside. It is an adult dog, but can it get along well with children?"
Kang said, "Rottweilers are good and kind friends, and when they become close to their families, they are likely to be alert to their surroundings."
He warned, "They usually weigh over 30kg, and can reach up to 50kg if large. They have big heads, big mouths, and very strong biting power. So they can be really dangerous."
He continued, "If I were to raise a Rottweiler, I would do a lot of socialization training from a young age, and muzzle training is absolutely, absolutely, absolutely necessary," repeatedly emphasizing the importance of wearing a muzzle.
Experts point out the need for stricter laws regulating dangerous dog management. They also stress that punishments should be strengthened to raise owners’ awareness.
Wonbok Lee, head of the Korea Animal Protection Union, said, "Although the number of pet owners in our country has quantitatively expanded, there are still many qualitative shortcomings," adding, "Because a mature pet culture is not yet supported, such safety accidents continue to occur."
Lee emphasized, "For dangerous dogs that are instinctively aggressive, stricter standards should be reflected in laws regarding ownership, breeding, and management. Also, punishments need to be strengthened to prevent harm or accidents to others."
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