[Insight] Why Couldn't the Dogs of French Commoners Run Properly? (Part 2)

Information on Pets Not Featured in the Movie 'Dog Days'
Elderly Villagers in Iksan Who Cooked a Lost Sheepdog
Does Tail Docking Benefit Pet Dog Health?
Pet Dog That Comforted Clinton Amid the Lewinsky Scandal

'If you look closely,' it conveys useful information in a somewhat disorganized manner. These are tips for enjoying movies and series more interestingly.

*Following Is it okay to bury a deceased pet dog in a mountain forest? (Part 1)

*In most states in the United States, where advanced pet culture is established, pets are prohibited from entering restaurants. This is due to hygiene issues such as shedding fur and excrement, or safety concerns like barking at or threatening other customers. South Korea's Food Sanitation Act is no different. To allow animals accompanying customers, a separate space for animals must be prepared. Under current law, it is difficult to dine with pets even in dog cafes.

*Many countries, including South Korea, face issues with stray cats. Since the mid-2000s, Japan has been preparing and implementing measures related to stray cats. For example, Arakawa Ward in Tokyo enacted the "Ordinance on Securing a Good Living Environment in Arakawa Ward" in 2008. It stipulates that "feeding animals that one does not own or possess, causing poor conditions, is prohibited," banning feeding ownerless animals such as pigeons, crows, and stray cats. If someone places a bowl and feeds them, the ward mayor can order its removal, and failure to comply may result in administrative enforcement (forced removal) or a fine of up to 50,000 yen. Such ordinances have spread to other regions, and many areas in Japan prohibit indiscriminate feeding of stray cats.

*In 2016, in a small village in Iksan, Jeollabuk-do, elderly villagers roasted and ate a neighbor's pet dog. The dog, named "Heart," was a ten-year-old Old English Sheepdog. It was a large dog weighing over 25 kg with long fur like a Sapsal dog. The owner was startled by a loud "bang" from burning trash in the yard and ran outside. Heart did not return for a long time. While distributing flyers and searching, the owner received a report from an elderly woman that a large dog was lying down. However, the dog could not be found, and other witnesses said, "It was lying down bleeding from the head," and "Three men carrying sticks and sacks were wandering around." Police confirmed via black box and CCTV that four men were seen dragging Heart on a road. After identifying and investigating them, they admitted to loading the dog onto a 1-ton truck and taking it to the village hall, where they roasted and ate it. The owner filed charges against the four men for violating the Animal Protection Act and the crime of embezzlement of lost property. The suspects claimed they did not kill Heart but only ate a dog that was already dead. The prosecution found only the embezzlement charge valid and sought a summary indictment with fines of 300,000 to 500,000 KRW. The Animal Protection Act violation was dismissed.

*Eating dog meat is not a violation of the Animal Protection Act. While violations may occur in the process of killing dogs for meat, eating meat from an already deceased dog itself is not considered a violation of the Animal Protection Act.

*There is a claim that tail docking (cutting the tail of livestock to improve appearance or prevent disease) benefits the health of pet dogs. It is argued to be necessary not just for aesthetics but for growth and health. For example, certain breeds structurally tend to get feces on their tails during defecation, so cutting the tail is said to be more hygienic. However, these are all speculations, and no veterinary research supports this. Experts agree that even if some claims are true, the disadvantages far outweigh the benefits. The risks have been somewhat proven medically. There is a risk of infection or neuroma, and the pain from amputation is considerable, making it highly inappropriate. There is also a risk of negative effects after the dog matures. Europe legislated a ban on tail docking in 1987 with the "European Convention for the Protection of Pet Animals," allowing exceptions only when medically necessary.

*Tail docking of pet dogs has been practiced for a long time. Various origin theories exist, including that it originated from shepherd dogs used in Roman-era ranches. The tail, which was easily bitten, was cut to protect from wolves and to prevent it from being stepped on by other livestock. Guard dogs were said to have their ears cut to look fiercer. In the Middle Ages, working dogs were exempt from taxes, so tail docking was used as a mark of "working dogs." In modern times, tail docking increased as tail length became a judging criterion in dog shows selecting dogs closest to breed standards.

*Animal abuse does not necessarily mean the abuser will commit violent crimes against humans. However, the likelihood of committing other crimes is generally higher than average. Kang Ho-soon, who killed ten women over about three years starting in 2006, operated a dog farm. A famous photo shows him smiling while holding a Siberian Husky. He reportedly neglected dogs in extreme cold or starved them to death and killed them cruelly during slaughter. In interviews with profilers, he said, "Killing many dogs made it easier to kill people, and I couldn't restrain my urge to kill." Yoo Young-chul, who killed about twenty women and elderly people from 2003 to 2004, reportedly stabbed dogs with a knife as a "murder experiment," realizing blunt weapons were more effective. He used blunt weapons in actual crimes. Cho Doo-soon, who committed brutal child sexual crimes in 2008, stated during investigation that he had thrown dogs against walls twice while drunk and stabbed one in the eye with a broomstick. Similar cases exist abroad. Nicholas Jacob Cruz, who committed a 2018 Florida high school shooting, admitted to shooting squirrels and rabbits before the crime. Devin Patrick Kelley, who killed 26 people in a 2017 Texas church shooting, had been charged previously for killing animals.

*A report on "Animal Abuse and Other Crimes" by the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and Northeastern University found a significant correlation between animal abuse and other crimes. Based on the sample, about 70% of people who abused animals also committed crimes such as assault, property crimes, or drug offenses. Animal abuse did not precede other crimes. It appeared as one of many antisocial behaviors. Some people with prior general crime records later abused animals, and some with animal abuse records later committed other crimes. There was no correlation in the order. However, statistically, people who abuse animals tend to show antisocial tendencies and have a higher likelihood of committing other crimes.

*According to statistics from the Fire Agency, from 2016 to 2020, there were about 11,000 patient transports due to dog bite accidents. This is the number of officially recorded patient transports. Including minor dog bite incidents, the actual number of patients is likely much higher.

*In 2020, actor Kim Min-kyo's pet dog bit an 80-year-old neighbor woman, resulting in her death. Kim raised three large dogs?Rough Collie, Belgian Groenendael, and a mixed breed between them?off-leash in a kennel at his home in Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province. One day, the Rough Collie and the mixed breed jumped over the kennel fence and attacked an 84-year-old neighbor woman who was picking vegetables in the backyard. They bit her thighs and arms. The elderly victim was helpless against the attacking dogs and suffered severe injuries. She was immediately hospitalized but died two months later from pulmonary embolism caused by femoral artery damage. Kim was tried for involuntary manslaughter, found guilty, and sentenced to eight months in prison with a two-year probation. Neither Kim nor the prosecutor appealed, so the verdict was finalized. The court noted that Kim's dogs had previously bitten neighbors, and he had a duty to manage the kennel carefully to prevent harm but violated this duty. The fact that a person died made the crime more serious.

*Typically, dog bite accidents rarely result in death like Kim's case but often cause injuries. These cases usually fall under negligent injury, which is a quasi-offense (criminal prosecution cannot proceed if the victim does not want punishment). If the victim agrees not to prosecute, the offender is not punished. Many negligent injury cases end with non-prosecution or dismissal after victim agreement. Even if convicted, negligent injury is due to negligence and usually results in a fine. This sometimes leads to dog bite accidents being taken less seriously.

*The United States recognizes self-defense more leniently than South Korea. The formal name of U.S. self-defense law is the "Stand Your Ground Law." It allows immediate armed response without retreat if in danger. Many states, including California and Florida, enforce this law. Illinois and others enforce the "Castle Doctrine," which permits firearm use when a private area like one's home is invaded. Both concepts are similar, but the Castle Doctrine applies only to private areas, while Stand Your Ground applies in public spaces as well, making the latter's scope broader. The U.S. is very advanced and strict regarding animal welfare and punishes animal abuse at the highest levels worldwide. Killing animals recklessly can lead to severe penalties. So, if someone kills another person's dog to protect their body or property, can self-defense be recognized? Although the U.S. is lenient on self-defense, the requirements are similar to South Korea. While varying by state, self-defense must be proportional to the attack. Excessive response is not allowed. U.S. animal protection laws also prohibit killing or injuring animals "unnecessarily" or "without just cause." Self-defense is recognized only if killing or injuring the attacking dog is to prevent serious injury or urgent threat. There are exceptions; for example, Ohio law states that landowners may kill or injure animals trespassing on their property during removal, but must compensate the animal owner minus the damage caused. This is a somewhat unique law.

*Before the French Revolution, commoners' thousands of dogs were prevented from hunting by having the tendons in their hind legs cut. When the revolution occurred, commoners demanded equal rights with nobles, including the right to hunt. In the process of equalizing rights, many noble dogs were sacrificed, just as King Louis XVI became a victim of the revolution. The difference between the deaths of the dogs and Louis XVI is that the latter knew well the cause and consequences of his beheading.

*Various dog breeds benefited from social changes due to the French Revolution. Since the late 18th century, many new and old breeds rapidly increased throughout France and Europe.

*Some people like dogs with strong jaws that want to show their strength anywhere. They like not the dog itself but the fact that the dog has the power to harm others. They carry weapons in a modified form, but as long as the dog wears a muzzle, it is legal. However, it is illegal for owners to make dogs fight for money with their lives at stake. The ancestors of these aggressive dogs are Molossus breeds (ancestors of French Bulldogs and English Bulldogs) and breeds that fought in terrifying human armies.

*King Henry VIII's army had over 500 dogs. Spanish conquistadors partly subdued South American empires thanks to large, noisy guard dogs. Swiss officer Paul de Valli?re wrote in 1945 about war dogs, noting that during the Gallic Wars, the Helvetii had "dogs trained to attack at the sight of armor, leashes with iron spikes, and even the horse's muzzle."

*Napoleon's army held ceremonies honoring the bravery of war dogs like the Moustache breed. Some dogs received medals. The Nazi government under Hitler had over 100,000 dogs in its army. The Allied forces also had war dogs.

*About 100 years ago, the appearance of shepherd dogs was not exactly the same as their modern descendants. Shepherds were altered through crossbreeding with other breeds to achieve their current form. Following trends, some breeds became rare or outdated.

*Nice, France, known for its many elderly residents, is famous as a place where old, out-of-fashion dogs gather. You can meet various fluffy dogs of different colors. Outside Nice, many dogs have genetic traits similar to fighting dogs due to behavioral characteristics. A representative example is the Pit Bull.

*Actor Mickey Rourke publicly spoke at an awards ceremony in 2009 about how important his many dogs were in his life. "People all left and were gone, but the dogs remained."

*Hillary Clinton said, "When the Monica Lewinsky scandal broke, the only family member who still wanted to talk to Bill Clinton was his Labrador Retriever, Buddy." Bill Clinton once made a remark acknowledging this: "Now I have one friend. When Hillary is not here, that friend sleeps beside me. He is a true friend. We have a wonderfully good time together."

*Creators have portrayed dogs as humans in comics and films to show analyses of human society. Representative examples include Snoopy by Charles Schulz, Droopy by Tex Avery, and Milou by Herg? and Lassie.

Reference materials: Clive D. L. Wyn, translated by Jeon Haeng-seon, published by Hyunamsa, "How Dogs Love Us" (2020); Lee Jang-won, published by Gongjon, "Pet Advocacy" (2024); Pierre Schultz, translated by Heo Bong-geum, published by Choroknamu, "Comfort Given by Dogs" (2011); Seol Chae-hyun, published by Dong-A Ilbo, "Did That Dog Really Wag Its Tail Happily?" (2019); Miura Genta, translated by Jeon Gyeong-ah, illustrated by Suzuki Miho, published by Writing House, "What That Dog Wanted to Say" (2018); Gregory Burns, translated by Kim Shin-ah, published by Jinseong Books, "Do Pet Dogs Really Love Humans?" (2016); Lee Woong-jong, published by Sam & Parkers, "Dogs Are Dogs and Humans Are Humans," etc.