Jindo County, Jindo Dog as Food Dog Controversy... 'Malicious Rumors'

Comprehensive Survey on Pet Farm Breeding Conditions... Unregistered Dog Farms Caught Will Be Prohibited from External Transfer

Annual Support of 100 Million Won for Vaccine and Enclosure to Preserve Bloodlines

Natural Monument No. 53 Jindo Dog / ⓒ Asia Economy

[Jindo＝Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Seo Young-seo] Jindo County, Jeollanam-do recently confirmed through an investigation by livestock officials that the controversy over the Jindo dog, Natural Monument No. 53, being used as food, which has been circulating on the internet, is unfounded.

According to the county on the 2nd, the controversy over the Jindo dog being used as food, raised by some animal organizations, was found by local officials to involve a dog kept as a companion animal by a farm owner.

After visiting the farm twice following complaints from animal protection groups regarding animal abuse, no signs of physical or emotional abuse were found on the Jindo dog, which is registered and protected as Natural Monument No. 53.

The county plans to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the breeding conditions of companion animals, including Jindo dogs, and will take strong measures against farms violating the Animal Protection Act according to relevant laws.

From September until the end of next month, the Jindo Dog Livestock Division has formed a “Special Investigation Team on Jindo Dog Breeding Environment” to focus on investigating animal registration, animal management status, and breeding environment at approximately 2,000 breeding farms.

Since 1967, Jindo County has been designated as a Jindo Dog Protection Zone and restricts the breeding of dogs other than Jindo dogs in accordance with the Korean Jindo Dog Protection and Fostering Act to preserve the Jindo dog bloodline.

During the special investigation period, the county plans to survey and manage farms that are illegally breeding companion animals in poor conditions.

In particular, the investigation will cover animal registration, breeding environment, animal management status, and the status of breeding dogs. If unregistered dog breeding farms are found, the county will work with animal protection organizations to encourage the removal of these dogs outside the area.

Additionally, farms with poor breeding environments will be continuously required to improve and supplement conditions, and penalties will be imposed on various support projects.

The county supports about 100 million won annually for the preservation of the bloodline of Natural Monument No. 53 Jindo dogs, including expenses for nutritional supplements, vaccines, and the construction of kennels and exercise yards.

A representative from the Jindo Dog Livestock Division said, “The claim that Jindo dogs, designated as a natural monument, have no value for bloodline preservation and are sacrificed for food purposes is a baseless malicious rumor. We are making multifaceted efforts to maintain the reputation of the Jindo dog as Natural Monument No. 53.”

Meanwhile, Jindo County registers and manages a total of 6,956 Jindo dogs as natural monuments based on 19 inspection items and bloodline criteria according to the standard body type of the Jindo dog.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.