After the Elections, Reconsidering Animal Welfare Pledges [Lee Hyung-ju's Inhuman Animal Column]

With the recent conclusion of the 6.3 local elections, the focus now shifts to whether elected officials will honor their animal welfare commitments. In recent years, as the number of households with pets has grown and public interest in animals has increased, animal welfare pledges have evolved from niche promises to essential campaign platform items.

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Establishing a directly managed animal protection center.

A particularly noteworthy pledge from the elections was Jeon Jae-soo, the newly elected mayor of Busan, to establish a directly managed animal protection center. Busan currently sees over 5,000 stray and abandoned animals annually, with protection services heavily reliant on private outsourcing. This has led to controversies, including the euthanasia of animals without proper adoption announcements or procedures, and a recent crisis where animals faced potential mass euthanasia due to the termination of a contracted shelter's agreement.

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Seoul, Together from Beginning to End for Companion Animals.

While direct municipal management of animal protection centers won't solve all issues, it signifies a crucial step towards long-term planning for facility improvements and professional staffing, as the local government assumes direct responsibility. In Seoul, Mayor Oh Se-hoon's animal welfare platform, encapsulated by the slogan "Seoul, Together from Beginning to End for Companion Animals," prioritizes support for pet owners. This includes plans for a pet theme park in Yeoncheon County and expanding animal welfare support centers from three to six by 2030. While these initiatives demonstrate policy continuity, the article questions whether the needs of animals requiring urgent welfare improvements have been overlooked, suggesting that programs promoting the adoption of stray animals could be integrated into facilities like the proposed theme park.

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We will change the열악한 reality through care education for seniors and support for improving the living environment.

The election also saw party-level commitments, with the Democratic Party announcing ten animal welfare pledges. Among these, a plan to improve the welfare of "village yard dogs" through care education for seniors and support for improving living environments stands out. This addresses the harsh reality for many dogs tethered outdoors, often lacking basic care, whose offspring face similar lives or end up euthanized in shelters. The article also highlights the need for attention to zoo policies, noting that a survey of candidates revealed significant agreement on the necessity of improving public zoos. Candidates like Kim Sang-wook, mayor-elect of Ulsan, expressed intentions to shift the function of public zoos from mere entertainment venues to institutions for wildlife conservation and environmental education.

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Shifting the function of public zoos from viewing and entertainment facilities to wildlife conservation and environmental education institutions.