"Our Dog Really Doesn't Bite" No Longer Works Now

Dangerous dog. Stock photo. Not related to specific expressions in the article. [Image source=Yonhap News]

원본보기 아이콘

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] As disputes over compensation for dog bite incidents increase, the government has introduced and begun implementing a dangerous dog liability insurance system. If a dangerous dog causes death, injury to a person, or harm to another pet dog, compensation must be made through insurance.

As a result, owners of dangerous dogs are expected to properly enforce the wearing of 'dangerous dog muzzles' to prevent dog bite incidents. Additionally, the excuse often used during conflicts over dog bites, such as "My dog really doesn't bite," is expected to disappear.

On the 12th, the government enacted the Enforcement Decree and Enforcement Rules of the Animal Protection Act, which include provisions for punishing animal abuse and strengthening pet safety management. The law requires owners of dangerous dogs to subscribe to insurance to compensate for damage to human life, body, or property caused by dangerous dogs, and imposes fines on owners who do not subscribe to insurance.

In particular, existing dangerous dog owners must subscribe to insurance by the enforcement date of the law, the 12th, and those who newly acquire dangerous dogs must subscribe to insurance on the day they acquire the dog.

The dangerous dog liability insurance, which is the owner's liability insurance, provides compensation limits of 80 million KRW per victim in case of death caused by a dangerous dog, 15 million KRW per victim according to injury or disability grade in case of injury or sequelae, and at least 2 million KRW per case for injury to other animals.

However, even if insured, guardians raising aggressive dogs must exercise caution to prevent accidents.

Also, if insurance is not subscribed to or renewed before expiration, fines start at 1 million KRW for the first violation and increase up to 3 million KRW for the third violation. Approximately 2,200 dangerous dogs are registered with local governments. Considering many unregistered dangerous dogs, the actual number is estimated to reach 10,000.

Therefore, failure to wear a muzzle may lead to dog bite incidents and consequent compensation claims, so wearing muzzles for dangerous dogs is expected to become established among owners.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

원본보기 아이콘

◆ About 2,000 dog bite incidents annually... A Spitz bitten and killed on the street

The government designates five aggressive dog breeds as dangerous dogs: Rottweiler, Dosa dog, American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, and Staffordshire Bull Terrier. Relatedly, about 2,000 dog bite incidents continue to occur annually.

On June 23 last year at 7:30 a.m., Mr. A, a resident in his 50s of Marado, Jeju Island, was walking his pet dog when a neighbor's large dog suddenly charged and bit his dog. Mr. A was injured while trying to intervene, suffering bites on his left elbow and wrist.

Also, on the 25th of the same month, in a residential area in Bulgwang-dong, Eunpyeong-gu, Seoul, a dangerous dog Rottweiler bit and killed a pet dog (Spitz) being walked by its owner. The Rottweiler charged without a muzzle, and the Spitz was bitten to death in the intestines. The Spitz’s owner was also injured while trying to stop the attack.

Meanwhile, a post describing a near-miss serious accident caused by a dangerous dog charging was uploaded on an online community. In a dog lovers’ club on an internet community, a post stated, "While walking my pet dog, a dangerous dog that looked like a Dosa suddenly charged, which was very frightening." According to Mr. B, who posted it, "Fortunately, my dog was wearing a muzzle and leash, and the owner quickly controlled the dog, preventing a serious accident," explaining the tense situation at the time.

Mr. B added, "Sometimes I see dangerous dogs while walking," and "Nowadays, most wear muzzles and leashes, but I have often witnessed walks without these, which makes me feel uneasy."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

원본보기 아이콘

◆ 2 to 3 patients visit emergency rooms daily due to dog bites... Public criticism of negligent dangerous dog management by owners

According to the Fire Agency, about 7,000 patients have received hospital treatment for dog bite incidents over the past three years. Every day, 2 to 3 patients visit emergency rooms due to dog bites.

Citizens are voicing criticism regarding dangerous dog bite incidents. Mr. Kim, a company employee in his 40s, said, "Dangerous dogs look scary even at a glance, and I think wearing muzzles is a rule that must be followed for the safety of others."

Another office worker in their 30s, Mr. Lee, said, "Even a regular dog bite is really painful and serious, so dangerous dogs must be even more so," emphasizing, "I hope this law revision will reduce dog bite incidents."

According to the Korea Consumer Agency, from 2011 to 2017, a total of 6,012 reports of pet dog bites were received. The number increased by about 38.2% from 1,019 cases in 2016 to 1,408 cases in 2017. One in five victims were children, and the head and face were the most frequently bitten areas.

Despite this situation, some criticize that careless responses by some owners cause dog bite incidents. According to Article 13 of the Animal Protection Act concerning dangerous dog management, owners must use safety devices such as leashes and muzzles when taking dangerous dogs over three months old outside, or use appropriate transport devices to prevent sudden behavior or escape.

Additionally, dangerous dog owners must complete three hours of mandatory online education annually. If owners had complied with these laws before the government introduced the dangerous dog liability insurance system, previous dog bite incidents might have been prevented. This is why criticism arises that dangerous dog owners fail to properly manage their dogs, leading to accidents.

Meanwhile, the government plans to select dog breeds with frequent bite incidents and push legislation that can order muzzling, education, and even euthanasia.

© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.