'Soekkochaengi' Slaughter Site... Paju Dog Meat Farm Raided After Tip-Off

A dog meat farm in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, where dogs were cruelly slaughtered with electric metal skewers, was caught during an on-site crackdown by Gyeonggi Province authorities.

On the 21st, the Gyeonggi Province Special Judicial Police for Public Livelihood exposed a slaughter site at a dog meat farm in Paju-si, Gyeonggi Province.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

원본보기 아이콘

According to Yonhap News on the 22nd, the Gyeonggi Province Special Judicial Police for Public Welfare (hereinafter referred to as Special Judicial Police) announced that they are investigating a dog meat farm in Jeokseong-myeon, Paju City, on suspicion of violating the Animal Protection Act. Earlier, after receiving a tip from a resident about this farm, the Special Judicial Police conducted a stakeout investigation and raided the scene in the early hours of the 21st, catching Mr. A, who was raising dogs at the farm, slaughtering a dog with an electric metal skewer.

The farm was raising about 50 dogs, and the Special Judicial Police found eight dog carcasses at the scene.

According to the current Animal Protection Act, anyone who kills an animal in a cruel manner can face imprisonment for up to three years or a fine of up to 30 million won. Accordingly, the Special Judicial Police plan to investigate Mr. A and then send the case to the prosecution. They are also investigating the farm for unreported food waste disposal and unreported livestock manure treatment facilities.

This investigation is the second on-site crackdown following Governor Kim Dong-yeon's directive on the 21st of last month to prevent recurrence, triggered by the 'Yangpyeong dog carcass incident.'

The 'Yangpyeong dog carcass incident' refers to the discovery of about 1,400 pet dog carcasses at a house in Yangpyeong-gun, Gyeonggi Province, on the 4th of last month. The homeowner, a man in his 60s who runs a junkyard (currently detained), had taken in pet dogs whose market value had dropped for 2 and a half years at 10,000 won per dog, starved them to death, shocking society. Subsequently, on the 26th of the same month, the Special Judicial Police investigated a dog meat farm in Gwangju City and found eight dog carcasses and a grave estimated to contain dozens of animal bones at the site.

As these investigation details became known, similar tips have been continuously received by the Special Judicial Police, and Gyeonggi Province is promoting additional on-site investigations based on these reports.

Hong Eun-gi, head of the Gyeonggi Province Special Judicial Police for Public Welfare, said, "Interest in companion animals is increasing, but animal abuse still occurs frequently, so we plan to strengthen investigations further. However, since animal abuse acts are carried out secretly, the cooperation of residents is important. Providing specific evidence such as photos and videos of the scene when reporting will be of great help."

In December last year, Gyeonggi Province reorganized the Livestock and Forestry Bureau into the 'Livestock Animal Welfare Bureau,' establishing the 'Animal Welfare Division' and 'Companion Animal Division' for the first time nationwide, and also created an Animal Abuse Prevention Team within the Special Judicial Police organization.

© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.