"Letting the Leash Loose Out of Love"... Repeated Dog Bite Incidents, Is This Okay?

Serious Injury from Large Dog Off Leash... Owner "Cannot Compensate"
6 People Bitten by Dogs Daily in Korea... 11,152 Dog Bite Cases in 5 Years
Experts "Owners Must Exercise Extra Caution"

The condition of Mr. An's ankle, bitten by a large dog without a leash or muzzle. Photo by Mr. An, screenshot from his blog.

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] Recently, in a dog playground in Nowon-gu, Seoul, a woman in her 30s was seriously injured when bitten by a large dog without a leash, with her ankle bone exposed. However, the owner of the dog insisted, "I do not have the ability to compensate for the damage," and it is reported that the victim has not received any compensation.

As dog bite incidents occur frequently, citizens' anxiety is increasing. There have even been cases where victims have died from dog bites, yet some dog owners are still criticized for not using safety devices such as muzzles or leashes on their pets. Experts urge dog owners to exercise special caution to prevent dog bite accidents.

Recently, the victim of a dog bite accident, Ms. An (39), shared the situation on her social media (SNS). According to her post, on September 30, while parking her car and entering the dog playground with her pet dog, she was bitten on the leg by a large dog roaming without a leash. Ms. An suffered a severe injury with her ankle bone exposed and underwent suturing surgery, and her dog was also injured.

The dog playground is known as a space where dog owners can bring their pets off-leash (without a leash). However, it is reported that Ms. An was bitten even before entering the playground.

Ms. An said, "At the time of the accident, the dog owner said, 'I love my dog so much that I deliberately let it loose, but this accident happened. I am truly sorry. I have committed a grave sin.'"

She continued, "At first, the owner said they would cover medical expenses and damages, but when the topic of a settlement came up, their attitude changed, telling me to handle it myself," and added, "They are insisting they cannot compensate because they live on basic livelihood security and have five dogs."

Recently, there have been consecutive incidents of dog bite accidents, prompting calls for related measures. The photo is unrelated to specific expressions in the article. Photo by Pixabay.

With the pet-owning population exceeding 10 million, accidents involving injuries or deaths caused by dogs without leashes or muzzles continue every year. According to the Fire Department, over the past five years (2016?2020), there have been 11,152 cases of patients transported to hospitals due to dog bites, averaging more than 2,000 cases annually. This means that more than six dog bite incidents, large and small, occur daily, requiring hospital transport.

The problem is that dog bite accidents can lead to serious casualties. In May, a woman in her 50s died after being bitten by a large dog in a mountain area in Namyangju, Gyeonggi Province, and in August, a middle-aged woman in Sacheon, Gyeongnam Province, was urgently operated on after being bitten on her arms and legs by a Jindo dog.

Given these circumstances, citizens are calling for stricter punishment for dog owners involved in bite incidents. Kim, a worker in his 20s, said, "When a dog bite accident occurs, the owner must take responsibility," and added, "Leashes and muzzles should be mandatory outdoors because many people are afraid of dogs."

On the Blue House (Cheongwadae) public petition board, posts urging stronger penalties for dog bite incidents are also being posted. In a petition titled "Please legally strengthen the responsibility for dog bite accidents," posted on the 29th of last month, the petitioner lamented, "My mother recently went through life and death in the hospital due to a dog bite accident and was discharged, but despite severe physical and mental aftereffects, the punishment and compensation system for the offending dog owner is absurdly inadequate."

They continued, "It was a matter of life and death, but the punishment level and fines for dog bite accidents are too low. Does the law only get revised when someone dies and it becomes an issue?" and appealed, "Please legally strengthen the responsibility for dog bite accidents."

Currently, under the Animal Protection Act, the breeds required to wear muzzles are five types: Dosa dogs, American Pit Bull Terriers, American Staffordshire Terriers, Staffordshire Bull Terriers, and Rottweilers.

However, even if the dog is not a dangerous breed, under the current Animal Protection Act, dogs over three months old must wear a leash when outside. If an owner fails to take safety measures such as leash use and a person is injured, they may face up to two years in prison or a fine of up to 20 million won; if a person dies, up to three years in prison or a fine of up to 30 million won.

In other countries, dog bite incidents are punished more severely. In the UK, if a dog injures a person, the owner can face up to five years in prison and fines. Most U.S. states have enacted dog bite laws specifying penalties for owners and dogs involved in incidents. Notably, in California, dogs that cause two or more bite incidents can be euthanized. France also has regulations allowing the euthanasia of dangerous dogs.

Experts suggest that proper awareness among dog owners is necessary to prevent dog bite accidents. Lee Wonbok, head of the Korea Animal Protection Alliance, said, "Dog bite accidents are occurring repeatedly regardless of location, becoming a social problem," and emphasized, "To prevent such accidents, dog owners need to exercise special caution and interest."

He added, "Strengthening punishment is not the only solution. Owners must recognize that their beloved pets can cause harm to others," and stressed, "A mature pet culture must be established."

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