(KR) New shelter & animal protection law in South Korea

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From ANIMAL PEOPLE, June 2007:

 

 

New shelter & animal protection law in South Korea

 

BOEUN, Korea--Korean Animal Pro-tection Society founder

Sunnan Kum formally opened a new KAPS shelter on April 15, 2007,

seven years after a donation of $25,000 from actor Danny Seo helped

her to acquire the land.

" Back in 1986, " Sunnan Kum recalled, " I purchased land in

Daegu, " her home city, " for the purpose of taking care of abandoned

dogs and cats for the first time. I had expected then that there

would not be so many abandoned animals. I used to believe that

anyone who encountered helpless animals would take care of them with

sympathy.

" I know that I was so naive and foolish to have had that

belief, " she continued. " I found many cats and dogs suffering in

extreme starvation and thirst all over this country. Warm-hearted

people would often bring me such animals instead of selling them to a

market. In no time, my land was fully occupied by cats, dogs, and

even wild animals. "

The shelter expanded to fill Sunnan Kum's home, and then

three floors of the building where she and her husband operate a

pharmacy. Still there was need. " I was drowning in unspeakable

shock and sorrow, " Sunnan Kum continued, " but I had to pull myself

together. I thought about what was wrong and what I should do from

then on. First, " she decided, " people need to be educated and

informed in order to cultivate the thought that every single life has

its own dignity. Second, we need to publicize the importance of

sterilization, to reduce the number of abandoned animals, " a cause

she furthered by opening a sterilization clinic. And, at the same

time, " she added, " we urgently needed a larger shelter. "

KAPS at the time ran the only shelter in South Korea. There

are now at least four nonprofit shelters offering alternatives to the

longtime practice of disposing of dogs and cats at meat markets.

KAPS formerly partnered with International Aid for Korean

Animals, of Oakland, California, founded by Sunnan Kum's younger

sister Kyenan Kum. The partnership is no longer in effect, but IAKA

is also still highly active, now working to introduce South Koreans

to the provisions of a new national animal protection law.

Passed in January 2007, to take effect in January 2008, the

new law " includes tougher penalties for animal cruelty, as well as

stronger legislation to address stray and abandoned animals, " Kyenan

Kum said. The new law empowers local governments to appoint animal

protection officers, authorized to investigate cruelty and seize

abused animals.

" Thanks to the committed efforts of our supporters, " Kyenan

Kum added, " we stopped legislation to allow 'hygienic control' of

dog meat, and kept the definition of 'pet animals' from being

included, " which would have excluded dogs and cats sold for meat from

protection. " IAKA is very proud of these accomplishments, " Kyenan

Kum stipulated, " and would like to allow the Korean government time

to implement the new law before making plans for any further

aggressive protests.

" The old law, " Kyenan Kum noted, " specified that one could

not kill an animal without a rational reason. The new law specifies

that animals cannot be killed by hanging, be killed in an open area

or on a street, or be killed in front of other animals. "

" The use of animals in indiscriminate laboratory testing will

be prohibited, " Kyenan Kum said. " Extraction of fluids from animals

will be prohibited unless for the purposes of the animals' health or

veterinary diagnostics, " a provision which if enforced would end

South Korean bear bile farming.

" Acts causing harm to animals for the purpose of gambling,

advertising, and entertainment will be prohibited. Persons

transporting animals will need to provide adequate food, avoid rough

driving, and use vehicles suitably equipped to prevent injury, "

Kyenan Kum finished.

 

--

Merritt Clifton

Editor, ANIMAL PEOPLE

P.O. Box 960

Clinton, WA 98236

 

Telephone: 360-579-2505

Fax: 360-579-2575

E-mail: anmlpepl

Web: www.animalpeoplenews.org

 

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