Jindo-gun 'Jindo Dog Theme Park' Program Animal Abuse Controversy
"Request to Close Jindo Dog Theme Park" Blue House Petition Also
Animal Protection Union "Great Stress for Animals... Must Stop Immediately"
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Young-eun] Recently, various performance programs held at the 'Jindo Dog Theme Park' in Jindo-gun, Jeollanam-do, aimed at promoting the excellence of the Jindo dog, have sparked controversy over animal abuse. Critics point out that the safety and welfare of the animals are not properly ensured, causing harm to the animals themselves, and voices are rising to shut down the facility to protect animals used as spectacles for humans.
Last month, Jindo-gun, Jeollanam-do announced that from the 2nd of this month until December 31, various performance programs featuring the Natural Monument No. 53 Jindo dog would be held at the 'Jindo Dog Theme Park.'
According to Jindo-gun, the purpose of the events held at the theme park is to "promote the excellence of the Jindo dog," and programs such as Jindo dog agility (a game where companion dogs run and quickly jump over various obstacles), races, demonstrations of obedience training by trainers, and individual skill performances are conducted. Also, according to posts on Jindo-gun's Instagram, the Jindo dog sledding area, promotional hall, and open yard are operated regularly, allowing anyone to touch and experience the Jindo dogs.
However, there are repeated criticisms of animal abuse, as the dogs are made to run while wearing muzzles that hinder their breathing, trained for performances, touched, and used as tourist attractions.
In this regard, on the 4th, a petition titled "Request to abolish the 'Jindo Theme Park' that lacks respect for life" was posted on the Blue House National Petition Board, gaining over 14,000 signatures within a day.
The petitioner stated, "I was horrified after seeing the promotional content of the 'Jindo Theme Park' posted on Jindo-gun's promotional SNS Instagram," and argued, "The posted content includes programs like 'agility performances' and 'races,' but these dogs are sensitive to noisy environments and sounds. Performing in front of people is abuse."
The petitioner continued, "The races are also entertainment created for people to enjoy by deliberately making the Jindo dogs compete against each other, which is also abuse," and appealed, "The running Jindo dogs wear muzzles, making it difficult to regulate their body temperature and breathe properly. They inevitably suffer. Please stop the abuse disguised as program promotion."
As the controversy continued, Jindo-gun explained on its official social media on the 4th, "The Jindo Dog Theme Park consists of a performance hall, race track, open yard, promotional hall, and sledding area," and added, "It is a place where dog owners and their companion dogs communicate and bond, and a space to widely promote the excellence of the Jindo dog to residents and tourists."
However, despite this explanation, netizens responded critically with comments such as, "Is it dignified for Jindo dogs to dance to music?", "Why should a Jindo dog hold a brush in its mouth to paint?", and "Turning living beings into spectacles itself is abuse."
The dolphin experience program at Geoje Sea World, which was involved in an animal abuse controversy. Photo by Yonhap News
This is not the first time that facilities operating with animals, such as zoos or theme parks, have faced animal abuse controversies. Previously, in June last year, Geoje Sea World faced criticism for animal abuse due to programs like riding dolphins like 'surfboards' during performances.
At that time, animal protection groups claimed under Article 8 of the Animal Protection Act that "causing physical pain or injury to animals without justifiable reason is animal abuse," demanding the suspension of the program and closure of the facility. However, Sea World countered, stating it was "an interaction between dolphins and humans conducted by professional trainers," denying any animal abuse.
Regarding the ongoing controversies over zoos and theme parks, a 25-year-old university student A said, "If the real intention is to cherish and protect animals, then providing an appropriate environment and protection would suffice," and criticized, "Forcing animals to be touched, watched, or raced like a circus is purely selfish behavior for humans."
Animal protection organizations urge that such programs, which may instill incorrect perceptions in people, must be stopped immediately due to the potential for animal abuse.
Lee Won-bok, head of the Korea Animal Protection Union, told Asia Economy in a phone interview, "Just as we feel breathless wearing masks during COVID-19, dogs also experience difficulty in oxygen supply when racing or sprinting while wearing muzzles," adding, "Dogs need to open their mouths to release heat and get oxygen, so muzzles interfere and cause discomfort. Wearing a muzzle alone is a stressful act and can be considered animal abuse."
He continued, "Allowing animals to roam freely and be touched may seem like simple curiosity to humans, but it causes stress to dogs," and explained, "There must have been hundreds of training sessions for individual skills and performances, which can also feel like abuse to the animals. Sled dogs were originally used as a means of transportation in the Arctic, so the very idea of creating concepts like sled dogs or flower carriage dogs needs to change."
He expressed concern, saying, "Citizens watching this would not feel comfortable, and experiencing animal abuse entertainment can instill wrong perceptions and dull the awareness of abuse itself." He added, "From the perspective of respect for life and animal welfare, inappropriate scenes that can send wrong messages must be stopped immediately. Animal protection organizations will also work towards legal reforms to discourage this."
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