Euthanasia Performed Without Anesthesia While Viewing Other Animals
"Contract Terminated with the Company... City to Operate Directly"
Miryang City issued an apology in the name of the mayor regarding the incident in which dozens of abandoned dogs were illegally euthanized at an abandoned dog shelter in the Miryang area of Gyeongnam.
On the 2nd, Mayor An Byeong-gu of Miryang expressed his apology on the city's official social media services (SNS), stating, "I deeply apologize to the public who have been greatly shocked by the recent Miryang abandoned dog shelter incident." He continued, "Through this incident, we will terminate the contract with the existing consignment company to ensure that such tragic deaths of animals never happen again, and hold the responsible parties accountable with appropriate personnel measures." Mayor An also added, "In the future, Miryang City will operate the abandoned dog shelter directly," and "We will promptly investigate the exact facts of the illegal activities and prepare and implement measures to prevent recurrence and improve animal welfare."
Earlier, on the morning of the 9th of last month, 37 abandoned dogs were euthanized at an animal protection center consigned by Miryang City. The animal protection center posts adoption and distribution notices for 10 days after the abandoned dogs are admitted; if no one claims them during this period, euthanasia is carried out according to procedure. However, in this case, the animal protection center caused controversy by performing euthanasia without the veterinarian anesthetizing the abandoned dogs and by conducting the euthanasia in front of other animals. This act violates the Animal Protection Act, which stipulates that when euthanizing abandoned dogs at local government animal protection centers, veterinarians must use humane methods such as anesthesia to minimize the animals' suffering.
When the details of the euthanasia at this center became known, the animal protection group 'Beagle Rescue Network' stated on social media, "Under the Animal Protection Act, 'causing death in front of other animals' is strictly prohibited as animal abuse," and demanded, "Miryang City must immediately terminate the consignment contract and convert the animal protection center to direct management, and disclose the operation records of the center, including records of drugs used for euthanasia." As the issue escalated, a Miryang city official explained, "The center covered the dogs with blankets so that other abandoned dogs would not see the moment of death, but there were shortcomings," and added, "The veterinarian involved apologized during a meeting with the animal protection group the day before regarding the lack of anesthesia and related issues."
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