Busan Illegal Puppy Mill – The government’s policy promoting unchecked growth in the pet industry, including multi-level pet sales, has catastrophically failed.
Sharing for Korea Animal Rights Advocates (KARA)
Busan Illegal Puppy Mill – The government’s policy promoting unchecked growth in the pet industry, including multi-level pet sales, has catastrophically failed.
On October 17th, 2024, Animal Rights Group “Lucy’s Friends” and a coalition of animal welfare organizations rescued 587 severely abused dogs from an illegal breeding facility in Gangseo District, Busan. For two decades, this facility subjected dogs to relentless forced breeding, selling puppies at auctions, and discarding exhausted breeding animals. This cruelty thrived without effective regulation.
Rescuers found dogs crammed into filthy, four-tiered wire cages, some stacked to the ceiling, creating a nightmarish labyrinth. Animals were covered in excrement, fur matted, teeth missing, and eyes infected. Many were blind or suffering from hernias. Some were too weak or severely injured to stand, and others were found dead.
The air was thick with the stench of excrement and ammonia, and dogs were forced to eat rotten chicken in an environment filled with maggots and decomposing waste. The facility engaged in numerous illegal activities, including occupying national land and suspected unlawful euthanasia with restricted drugs.
During the rescue, a mother dog gave birth on the bare wire floor of a cage without even a towel. Puppies born in these horrific conditions were sold through auctions to pet shops and presented as commodities. It is estimated that about 20% of the 587 rescued dogs were pregnant and about to give birth.
❓❗Did consumers purchasing pets from shops know these animals originated from such appalling conditions?
Despite the breeder’s history of extreme animal abuse, they easily obtained a “small-scale production” license after the 2020 permit system was implemented. They also operated an illegal puppy factory 30 times larger than the permitted scale at another location. The current legal system is incapable of curbing the illegal breeding, distribution, and sale of pets.
☑️The first step to controlling an industry that treats life solely as a means for profit is passing the “Lucy Law” to abolish auction houses and pet shops that promote factory-style production of dogs. “Lucy’s Friends” is spearheading the “Lucy’s Law” proposal in the 22nd National Assembly, and we will not rest until it is enacted. This rescue is just the beginning. Please support the rescued animals and join our fight for the Korean “Lucy’s Law.”🙏
◆ Organizations involved in the rescue:
Neowa Hamge Nyang, Animal Rights Freedom Neowa, Animal Rights Rights Advocates(KARA), Animal Protection Organization LIFE, Dengdengi Flower Shelter, Protect Dorothy, Aniband, Angel Project, We Act, Yoo Umpa, Korean Dogs, Cocker Friends, TBT Rescue, Pug Rescue of Korea, With the Dog, Love the Dog, Happy Stray Dog World, CRK, LCKD, KK9, and two individual rescuers.
Call for Action
👉 Click HERE to file a petition with the South Korean government through e-People online. (You can use our “Suggested message” below or write your own.)
📌 Need help with the e-People petition? Click HERE for instructions.
👉 📧 Send emails to the members of the Busan Gangseo District Council, Busan Metropolitan Council, and the South Korean National Assembly.
[email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected];
[email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected];
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👉 📬 Send letters to the Busan Government.
📬 Mayor Park Heong-Joon
Busan Metropolitan Hall
1001, Jungang-daero, Yeonje-gu, Busan, Postal code 47545
South Korea
📬Busan Metropolitan Council
1001, Jungang-daero, Yeonje-gu, Busan, Postal code 47545
South Korea
📬 District Mayor Gim Hyeong-Chan
Busan Gangseo District Government
477 Nakdongbuk-ro, Gangseo-gu, Busan, Postal code 46702
South Korea
📬 Busan Gangseo District Council
477 Nakdongbuk-ro, Gangseo-gu, Busan, Postal code 46702
South Korea
📬 Busan Government’s addresses in Korean:
📬 박형준 부산광역시 시장님
부산광역시청
(47545) 부산광역시 연제구 중앙대로 1001
South Korea
📬 부산광역시의회
(47545) 부산광역시 연제구 중앙대로 1001
South Korea
📬 부산광역시 강서구 김형찬구청장님
부산광역시 강서구청
(46702) 부산광역시 강서구 낙동북로 477
South Korea
📬 부산광역시 강서구의회
(46702) 부산광역시 강서구 낙동북로 477
South Korea
📝 Suggested message
Urgent Demand for Accountability, Legal Reform, and Protection of Animals Following the Busan Gangseo District Illegal Puppy Mill Incident
Addressed to:
• The Mayor of Busan Metropolitan City
• The Head of Busan Gangseo District
• The Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, South Korea
Whereas, on October 17th, 2024, the Animal Rights Group “Lucy’s Friends” and a coalition of animal welfare organizations rescued 587 severely abused dogs from an illegal breeding facility in Gangseo District, Busan;
Whereas, for two decades, this facility subjected dogs to relentless forced breeding, selling puppies at auctions, and discarding exhausted breeding animals, all while operating with apparent impunity;
Whereas, the rescued animals were found in horrific conditions, including:
• Confinement in filthy, multi-tiered wire cages, some stacked to the ceiling.
• Severe neglect, with animals covered in excrement, matted fur, missing teeth, and infected eyes.
• Widespread health issues, including blindness, hernias, and injuries preventing mobility.
• Exposure to unsanitary and dangerous conditions, including rotten food, maggots, and decomposing waste.
• Suspected illegal euthanasia using restricted drugs.
• Pregnant mothers giving birth on bare wire floors.
• Operating an illegal puppy factory 30 times larger than their permitted scale at another location.
Whereas, the facility operated despite obtaining a “small-scale production” license after the 2020 permit system was implemented, highlighting the system’s failure to prevent animal abuse;
Whereas, the puppies born in these appalling conditions were sold through auctions to pet shops, perpetuating a cycle of suffering and deceiving consumers who were unaware of the animals’ origins;
Whereas, the current legal system is demonstrably inadequate to curb the illegal breeding, distribution, and sale of pets, allowing such egregious animal abuse to persist;
Therefore, we demand the following:
1. Immediate and Thorough Investigation and Prosecution: We demand a comprehensive investigation into the illegal operations of the Busan Gangseo District puppy mill, leading to the full prosecution of all responsible parties to the maximum extent of the law.
2. Accountability of Local and National Authorities: We demand a thorough review of the actions and oversight of Busan Metropolitan City, Busan Gangseo District, and the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs regarding the licensing and monitoring of animal breeding facilities. We demand accountability for the systemic failures that allowed this abuse to continue for two decades.
3. Enactment of “Lucy’s Law”: We fully support the enactment of “Lucy’s Law,” which aims to abolish auction houses and pet shops that promote the factory-style production of dogs. This legislation is crucial to dismantling the profit-driven system that perpetuates animal cruelty.
4. Comprehensive Reform of Animal Protection Laws: We demand immediate and comprehensive reform of South Korea’s animal protection laws to:
• Strengthen regulations on animal breeding facilities, including stricter licensing requirements, regular inspections, and enforceable penalties for violations.
• Implement traceability systems to ensure transparency in the pet trade and prevent the sale of animals from illegal sources.
• Prohibit the sale of animals in inhumane conditions, such as through auctions and in pet shops that source from factory-style breeding operations.
• Increase penalties for animal abuse and neglect.
• Provide increased resources to animal welfare organizations and law enforcement to improve animal protection.
5. Support for Rescued Animals: We demand that the authorities provide full support and resources for rehabilitating and rehoming the rescued animals.
6. Transparency and Public Reporting: We demand that the authorities provide regular and transparent updates on the investigation, prosecution, and reform efforts.
We stand in solidarity with the rescued animals and demand immediate action to prevent future atrocities. An online petition is currently underway, urging the Busan Metropolitan City, Busan Gangseo District, and the Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs to prioritize animal welfare and implement meaningful reforms to protect vulnerable animals. https://chng.it/tCpf8ZkbyR
Sincerely,
[Your name, city, country]
📝 Suggested message in Korean
부산 강서구 불법 번식장 사건 관련 책임 규명, 법적 개혁 및 동물 보호 긴급 촉구 (반려동물 다단계 매매 허용으로 펫산업을 키워온 정부정책은 실패했습니다!)
수신:
• 부산광역시장
• 부산 강서구청장
• 대한민국 농림축산식품부 장관
2024년 10월 17일, 루시의친구들은 17일 부산 강서구의 한 불법 번식장을 적발, 고통받던 생명 587마리 전원을 공동구조했습니다.
무려 20년간 강제교배로 새끼를 빼어 경매장에 내다팔고, 생산 능력이 떨어진 종모견들은 가차 없이 처분해 버리던 악랄한 번식장은 그 긴 세월 아무런 제재도 받지 않았습니다.
개들은 지옥길과도 같이 끝없이 이어진 미로를 따라 공중에, 바닥에, 더럽고 좁은 4단으로 쌓아올린 케이지속에 꽉꽉 쟁여넣어져 있었고 일부는 지붕위에서 연명하고 있었습니다. 윗층에서 떨어지는 배변을 맞던 개들은 오물에 뭉친 털, 빠진 이빨, 고름으로 가득한 눈에 아예 앞을 못보거나 탈장되어 있었으며, 일어서지도 못하는 개와 죽은 개도 발견되었습니다.
재래식 변소보다 더한 암모니아 냄새로 숨이 막히는 현장에서 평생을 살아야 했던 개들은 폐닭을 먹어야 했고 먼지덩어리와 부패한 오물이 가득한 견사 곳곳에 구더기가 들끓었습니다. 낙동강변 국유지 불법점거, 불법살처분을 의심케하는 약제와 수의사만이 사용가능한 마약류까지 이 번식장의 위법 사항은 다 열거하기 조차 힘들지경입니다.
당일 현장에서는 수건 한 장 깔리지 않은 철장 맨 바닥에서 어미개 한 마리가 출산중이었습니다. 이 지옥에서 태어난 아기 강아지들은 경매장을 거쳐 펫숍서 소비자들에게 판매되고 있었습니다. 현재 총 구조 마릿수 587중 약 20%로 추산되는 개들이 만삭 추정으로 출산을 앞두고 있었습니다.
엽기적으로 동물을 학대해 온 번식업자는 허가제 시행 이후인 2020년 소위 ’소규모생산‘으로 손쉽게 허가증을 획득했습니다, 그리고 다른 장소에 허가 규모의 30배가 넘는 규모의 불법 강아지공장을 두고 위법을 저질러 왔습니다. 허가제 도입도 유명무실한 이 불법 생산유통판매는 절대로 현행 법 체계 내에서는 해결할 수 없습니다.
따라서 우리는 다음과 같은 조치를 요구합니다:
1. 즉각적이고 철저한 조사 및 기소: 우리는 부산 강서구 불법번식장의 불법 운영에 대한 포괄적인 조사를 요구하며, 모든 책임 당사자를 법이 허용하는 최대 범위까지 기소할 것을 요구합니다.
2. 지방 및 국가 당국의 책임: 동물 번식 시설의 허가 및 감독과 관련하여 부산광역시, 부산 강서구 및 농림축산식품부의 조치 및 감독에 대한 철저한 검토를 요구합니다. 우리는 이러한 학대가 20년 동안 지속되도록 허용한 시스템의 실패에 대한 책임을 요구합니다.
3. “루시법” 제정: 우리는 공장식 개 생산을 조장하는 경매장과 애완동물 가게를 폐지하는 것을 목표로 하는 “루시법”의 제정을 전적으로 지지합니다. 이 법안은 동물 학대를 영속화하는 이윤 중심 시스템을 해체하는 데 매우 중요합니다.
4. 동물 보호법의 포괄적인 개혁: 우리는 대한민국의 동물 보호법에 대한 즉각적이고 포괄적인 개혁을 요구합니다.
• 더 엄격한 허가 요건, 정기적인 검사 및 위반에 대한 집행 가능한 처벌을 포함하여 동물 번식 시설에 대한 규정을 강화합니다.
• 애완동물 거래의 투명성을 보장하고 불법 출처의 동물 판매를 방지하기 위해 추적 시스템을 구현합니다.
• 경매 및 공장식 번식 운영에서 공급받는 애완동물 가게와 같이 비인도적인 조건에서 동물을 판매하는 것을 금지합니다.
• 동물 학대 및 방치에 대한 처벌을 강화합니다.
• 동물 보호를 개선하기 위해 동물 복지 단체 및 법 집행 기관에 대한 자원을 늘립니다.
5. 구조된 동물에 대한 지원: 당국이 구조된 동물의 재활 및 입양을 위한 모든 지원과 자원을 제공할 것을 요구합니다.
6. 투명성 및 공개 보고: 당국이 조사, 기소 및 개혁 노력에 대한 정기적이고 투명한 업데이트를 제공할 것을 요구합니다.
서명인은 구조된 동물들과 연대하며 미래의 잔혹 행위를 방지하기 위한 즉각적인 조치를 요구합니다.
부산광역시, 부산 강서구 및 농림축산식품부가 동물 복지를 우선시하고 취약한 동물을 보호하기 위한 의미 있는 개혁을 시행할 것을 촉구하는 청원 캠페인이 전 세계적으로 진행되고 있습니다. https://chng.it/tCpf8ZkbyR
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