From the 11th, dog leashes and harnesses must be within 2 meters... 500,000 won fine for violations

[Asia Economy Sejong=Reporter Son Seon-hee] Starting from the 11th, when taking companion dogs outside, the length of the leash or harness must be kept within 2 meters. Violations may result in fines of up to 500,000 KRW, so caution is required.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs on the 9th, the "Animal Protection Act Enforcement Rules" containing this provision are scheduled to take effect from the 11th. The purpose is to strictly manage the length of leashes and harnesses to prevent companion dogs from causing harm to others.

Even if the total length of the leash or other equipment exceeds 2 meters, if the length of the leash actually connecting the companion dog and the person is kept within 2 meters by holding the middle of the leash, it is considered to comply with the safety regulations.

Additionally, in multi-family houses, multi-unit houses, and common areas inside apartment complexes, companion dogs must be held or have their scruff held to prevent sudden animal behavior. This is because in narrow indoor spaces such as apartment hallways or elevators, even if wearing a leash or harness, it is difficult to control the companion dog, which may cause threatening behavior that startles people or leads to biting incidents. When using a leash, its length should be minimized and kept vertical.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs specified the length standards through the operation of a related task force (TF) and the revision of the "Animal Protection Act Enforcement Rules" in February last year. Looking at actual related overseas cases, some states in the United States limit leash length to 6 feet (1.8m) when outside, and some states in Germany, Australia, and Canada limit leash length to within 2 meters when outside.

Kim Ji-hyun, Director of the Animal Welfare Policy Division at the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, said, "Living with companion dogs requires responsibility for the dogs and consideration for neighboring residents," and added, "Keeping the length of leashes and harnesses within 2 meters when outside is an effective measure to protect others and other animals in case of sudden situations or exposure to danger, while also safely protecting my companion dog," urging participation.

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