[Asia Economy Sejong=Reporter Kim Hyewon] From now on, when going out accompanied by companion dogs, a locking device must be equipped on the transport device. 'Quasi-housing' will be added to spaces where animals must be held directly or where leashes or harnesses must be held, and it will be prohibited to raise companion animals tied with a short leash less than 2 meters.
With the introduction of a private animal protection facility reporting system, facilities with 20 or more protected animals must report various information to the relevant city, county, or district office.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs announced that the "Enforcement Decree and Enforcement Rules of the Animal Protection Act Amendment (hereinafter referred to as the amended decree)" containing delegated matters from the law, following the revision and promulgation of the "Animal Protection Act" on April 26 last year, will be publicly notified for 40 days from the 19th to May 28, as the law is scheduled to be enforced on April 27.
Safety measures to prevent dog bite accidents and strengthened obligations for companion animal owners to provide appropriate care for their pets will be enhanced.
Currently, owners of registered animals must use a leash or harness or a transport device when going out with their animals. According to the amended decree, if a transport device is used, it must be equipped with a locking device to prevent the animal from escaping.
Additionally, owners must take safety measures such as holding the animal directly or holding the leash or harness in common areas inside multi-family housing, multi-unit housing, and apartment buildings as defined by the "Housing Act Enforcement Decree." The amended decree adds quasi-housing (dormitories, multi-residential facilities, senior welfare housing, and officetels) common areas to the places where these safety measures must be implemented.
As part of the obligations for raising, managing, and protecting companion animals, if animals are tied with a leash, the leash length must be at least 2 meters. Animals must not be kept for long periods in dark spaces where light is blocked unless there are unavoidable reasons such as the animal's habits. Furthermore, if the space where the animal is kept is far from where the owner resides, the hygiene and health status of the animal must be regularly observed.
To incorporate private animal shelters into the management system and improve animal protection environments, a private animal protection facility reporting system will be introduced. According to the amended decree, facilities with 20 or more protected animals (dogs and cats) must report the facility name and address, operator's name, facility area, and capacity to the relevant city, county, or district office. They must also report 30 days in advance in cases of temporary suspension, permanent closure, or resumption of operation.
Facility and operation standards that operators must comply with to ensure proper protection environments for abandoned or abused animals have also been established. This includes securing at least one staff member per 50 protected animals and verifying animal registration numbers upon animal intake.
However, existing operating protection facilities are granted a two-year grace period (until April 26, 2025) considering the time needed for facility improvements.
With the introduction of a local government animal acceptance system for animals whose owners give up raising them, specific reasons for owners to apply for animal acceptance are stipulated. If owners face unavoidable circumstances such as long-term hospitalization or care exceeding six months, military service, housing damage or loss due to typhoons, floods, earthquakes, or other similar unavoidable reasons making it difficult to properly raise the animal by other means, local governments may accept the animal.
The locations for installing video information processing devices (CCTV) within certain facilities to prevent animal abuse have been specified, and the isolation period for abused animals has been extended from 3 days to 5 days. Upon return, post-incident procedures such as submitting a care plan have been strengthened.
Institutions holding or using more than 10,000 experimental animals annually, or those holding or using experimental animals according to standards set by the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs even if fewer than 10,000, must employ a full-time veterinarian. The full-time veterinarian is responsible for veterinary management such as disease prevention of experimental animals, management of import and breeding of experimental animals, and other duties related to the health and welfare of experimental animals.
To enhance transparency in companion animal businesses and strengthen sanctions against illegal operations, the law has newly established a transaction report system and procedures for business closure. Animal producers, importers, and sellers must report the transaction details of registered animals handled each month to the relevant city, county, or district office by the 10th of the following month and keep the reported transaction records for two years.
Local government heads may take necessary measures to close business establishments that operate without permission or registration, or continue operations despite cancellation of permission or registration or suspension orders, following related procedures such as prior notification of closure time and place.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs plans to collect opinions from stakeholders through this legislative notice and complete the amendment process by April this year.
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