New Rule to Require Leashes on All Dogs

All dogs taken outdoors must be on leashes after a revision to the Animal Protection Act takes effect. Dogs must also wear tags with the names and addresses of the owners written on them. A fine of 100,000 won will be imposed if pet dogs are unleashed or when the owner fails to clean excrement, and 200,000 won if dogs are untagged. The following is a Q&A on the key points of the law.

Q: Do pets other than dogs need to be tagged?

A: For now, the law only targets dogs. The animal registration decree to be enforced in certain towns in the second half of this year will also target dogs only.

Q: Any designated format for the tag?

A: There is no fixed format. Tags can be purchased at pet accessory shops, the veterinarian or on the Internet. They’re usually around 5,000 won.

Q: What should be written on the tags?

A: The name, address and phone number of the owner are mandatory. Not the name of the dog. But when the animal registration is enforced, the registration number should be written there, too.”

Q: Should dogs wear electronic chips for tracking?

A: That’s not necessary.

Q: Does the term “excrement” include urine?

A: Though difficult to oversee in reality, urine is definitely included.

Q: Who is the overseer?

A: Local governments are the overseers. To begin with, the system will more depend on reported cases rather than patrols when it comes to imposing fines. In developed countries where the law has been enforced, only a few cases of imposing fines have been reported.

Q: Are there any public parks where dogs need not be leashed?

A: Dogs should be leashed at every public park. Even in the countryside outside of the cities, a dog needs a leash when going outdoors.”

Q: Is there an age requirement for the person holding the leash?

A: Age doesn’t matter. For a while, it was discussed whether to include a provision on age, but it was decided not to.

Q: Should dogs wear muzzles outdoors as well?

A: Fierce dogs as defined in the enforcement code and mixed breeds should wear muzzles. The dogs in question are fighting dogs, American pit bull terriers, American Staffordshire terriers, Staffordshire bull terriers, Rottweilers and their mixed breeds. The boundary of mixed breed has not been legally defined with clarity. These breeds do not need to be muzzled if they are less than three months old.

Q: When does the animal registration decree take effect?

A: Each local government will decide the enforcement schedule. Seoul, Gyeonggi Province and other regions are considering enforcing it from the second half of this year.

tesomiom@donga.com