Pet Owners "Economic Burden is Heavy" Protest
Government Initiates Public Debate on 'Pet Ownership Tax', Changes to 'Under Review' in One Day
Over 100,000 Abandoned Animals Annually... Related Costs Also Increasing Yearly
Recently, the government started a public opinion survey on the introduction of a pet ownership tax, but it halted the collection of opinions after just one day due to a surge in opposition. [Image source=Pixabay]
[Asia Economy Reporter Yoon Seul-gi] The government started a public opinion survey on the introduction of a pet ownership tax but halted the collection of opinions after just one day. Criticism has been mounting that the pet ownership tax is not effective in preventing animal abuse and would increase the economic burden on pet-owning households, prompting the government to take a step back.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs announced on the 18th that, together with the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission, it would conduct a public opinion survey on pet management measures until the 28th. The main survey topics include ▲ awareness of mandatory dog registration ▲ mandatory education before pet adoption ▲ the necessity of banning animal breeding for animal abusers ▲ the necessity of euthanasia for dogs causing biting incidents ▲ and the need to establish a pet ownership tax.
However, opinions were divided over the establishment of the pet ownership tax. While it could help increase responsibility as a pet owner before adoption, it would also increase the economic burden on pet owners. Kim, a 30-year-old office worker from a pet-owning household, said, "Veterinary costs are already burdensome, and since hospital fees vary, it is often difficult," adding, "Now they say they will impose a pet ownership tax, which only increases the burden on people who raise animals."
Voices calling the move premature also poured in from 'GangsaMo' (Gangajireul Saranghaneun Moim), an online community related to dogs. They argued that if taxes are collected without a prior pet welfare system, the number of abandoned pets would increase. Netizen A said, "Before collecting taxes, establishing an animal welfare system such as dog insurance should come first," adding, "Currently, when accidents happen, animals are regarded as the owner's property, so what good is collecting taxes?"
As backlash intensified, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs excluded the pet ownership tax question from the survey after just one day. The ministry stated, "The question related to the establishment of the pet ownership tax was excluded due to potential misunderstandings. The introduction of the tax has not yet been considered," adding, "We will carefully review it through research projects."
Controversy surrounding the pet ownership tax continues to arise. The government is moving to introduce an ownership tax because related costs, such as measures for abandoned animals, are increasing. [Image source=Pixabay]
The pet ownership tax is a topic that sharply divides opinions whenever its introduction is considered. Previously, in 2020, when the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs announced in the '2nd Comprehensive Animal Welfare Plan (2020-2024)' that it would review the pet ownership tax or fees and animal welfare funds starting in 2022, a debate over pros and cons ensued.
The day after the government announcement, a petition titled "Withdraw the statement on reviewing the pet ownership tax" was posted on the Blue House's public petition board. The petitioner pointed out, "I have paid all pet-related costs such as adoption fees, vaccination fees, and hospital fees out of pocket, so suddenly being asked to pay taxes is unreasonable," adding, "It also contradicts the policy that taxes should be paid where income is earned."
Despite opposition, the government is moving forward with the pet ownership tax because more than 100,000 abandoned animals occur annually, increasing related costs. According to the '2021 Lost and Abandoned Animal Analysis' released by Animal Freedom Union in January, a total of 116,984 pets were abandoned or lost their owners. Although this is a decrease of 11,733 cases (9.1%) compared to 2020 (128,717 animals), the number exceeded 100,000 for five consecutive years: 2017 (100,840), 2018 (118,697), and 2019 (133,513).
As abandoned animals increase, rescue and protection costs are also steadily rising. According to the status of pet protection and welfare management announced by the Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency, as of the end of 2020, there were 280 animal protection centers nationwide, with operating costs amounting to 26.7 billion KRW, a 15.1% increase from the previous year (23.2 billion KRW).
Meanwhile, countries such as Germany, the United States, the Netherlands, and Austria impose pet dog ownership taxes by local governments. In Germany, pet owners pay an annual tax of approximately 260,000 KRW, and the collected taxes are used to operate animal protection facilities.
There are also countries that imposed and later abolished the pet ownership tax. In the UK, the pet ownership tax was abolished in 1987 due to low effectiveness. However, as abandoned animals have recently increased, there are calls to reinstate the tax.
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