Animal Freedom Alliance Accuses Dog Trainer A
Leashed Dogs and Kicked Them Under Pretext of Training
A Says "Not Abuse Just Because It's Visible"
A dog behavior correction YouTuber has been accused of animal abuse for actions such as hanging a dog by its leash or kicking it under the pretext of training. On the 6th, the animal rights organization Animal Freedom Union announced that it had filed a complaint with Seongdong Police Station on the 23rd of last month against trainer A of the YouTube channel 'Daengjjok Counseling Center,' which uploads dog behavior correction content, on charges of violating the Animal Protection Act. A, who has about 163,000 subscribers, has been visiting homes upon requests regarding dogs with problematic behavior and posting video content on YouTube suggesting training methods.
A operates not only home visits but also runs a center in Hwaseong-si, Gyeonggi Province. For home visits, the fee is 500,000 KRW in the metropolitan area and 600,000 KRW outside the metropolitan area, with training sessions lasting about 2 to 3 hours. For one-on-one behavior correction at the center, the fee is 300,000 KRW per hour. Some YouTube content is known to be conducted only with prior consent.
A’s training is characterized by delivering strong shocks to stop the dog’s problematic behavior. However, the Animal Freedom Union stated, "There are acts that directly cause physical pain during this process," and pointed out, "According to the Animal Protection Act, acts that cause pain or injury to animals are prohibited when there are other methods to prevent direct threats to human life or body or property damage. (A’s actions) are clear acts of animal abuse."
In fact, videos posted on A’s YouTube channel show scenes where dogs exhibiting rough behavior are restrained by their leashes, lifted into the air with their necks choked, or repeatedly forced to collide with fences. Additionally, during the training of two frequently fighting dogs, A was seen kicking them with terms borrowed from soccer such as 'inside kick' and 'outside kick,' and teaching this method to the owners.
Recently, the Korea Kennel Association reportedly revoked A’s dog trainer certification. According to Yonhap News, the association received multiple complaints related to A and suspended the certification after an internal expert meeting.
Despite the controversy, A continues YouTube activities. In a previous video, A rebutted, saying, "I have worked hard and helped for the happiness and health of dogs and the companion life that owners dream of," and "It is unreasonable to call it 'abuse' just by what is seen."
In another interview, A claimed, "With emotional-based training methods, problematic behaviors that anyone can see cannot be corrected, and over time, treats don’t work either," adding, "Because the owners had already damaged the dogs too much, other stimuli were needed, so things like poking the side or using body blocking started about three years ago."
A national petition against A is currently underway. The petitioner stated, "We cannot tolerate animal abuse being justified under the pretext of 'discipline,'" and urged, "We call for legal regulations on violent training methods."
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