{"id":2203099,"date":"2023-12-13T19:33:24","date_gmt":"2023-12-13T10:33:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/?p=2203099"},"modified":"2023-12-14T16:06:54","modified_gmt":"2023-12-14T07:06:54","slug":"seouls-glitzy-pet-stores-peddle-puppies-as-shelters-overflow-with-unwanted-dogs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2023\/12\/seouls-glitzy-pet-stores-peddle-puppies-as-shelters-overflow-with-unwanted-dogs\/","title":{"rendered":"Seoul\u2019s glitzy pet stores peddle puppies as shelters overflow with unwanted dogs"},"content":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s a common sight across South Korea: Puppies, ranging from tiny Maltese to fluffy Pomeranians, peer out from stacked glass boxes at pet shops along city streets or in department stores, anxiously wagging their tails inside their cages.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

These stores are where many would-be pet owners find their next furry family member, welcoming places filled with cute animals.<\/span><\/p>\n

But they also belie more troubling aspects about the pet industry in South Korea: Just outside most cities, overcrowded animal shelters are forced to euthanize dogs that don\u2019t find homes.<\/span><\/p>\n

In 2022, humane shelters across the country euthanized 19,000 dogs due to space constraints, according to data from the <\/span>ROK Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs<\/span><\/a>. This figure is notably higher than in Japan, where around 2,700 dogs faced a similar fate between April 2021 and March 2022, as per <\/span>Japan\u2019s Ministry of the Environment<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

The situation has sparked a debate over the ethics of pet ownership and the need for regulatory intervention. Activists are pushing for laws to limit puppy sales and improve shelter conditions, but they face strong opposition from the pet industry.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Puppies on display in a pet shop in downtown Seoul, Dec. 13, 2023 | Image: Korea Pro<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

BEHIND GLASS WALLS<\/b><\/p>\n

South Korea\u2019s pet industry operates on a system where breeders auction their dogs to pet shops across the nation, while the auction houses generate income via commission.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cA fundamental problem is the system that treats life as a commodity,\u201d Kim Hyunji, a general manager at the Korea Animal Rights Advocates (KARA), told <\/span>Korea Pro<\/span><\/i>. \u201cEvery year, some 200,000 to 300,000 dogs are sold within South Korea\u2019s multi-tiered distribution system of roughly 2,100 breeding farms, 18 auction houses and over 4,000 pet shops.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The cost of a puppy varies widely. In one leading pet shop chain in Seoul, prices range from $1,900 to $4,900 (2.5 to 6.5 million won). A pet shop employee explained to <\/span>Korea Pro<\/span><\/i> the grim reality for those puppies that fail to quickly find homes: \u201cUnsold puppies are discounted or shuttled between stores.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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A puppy that costs more than $4,900 on display in a department store in Seoul, Dec. 13, 2023 | Image: Korea Pro<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

Consumer preferences are a significant driver of this industry. Data from Kookmin Bank indicates that 29% of South Koreans buy dogs from pet stores, whereas only 11% adopt them from shelters. Additionally, there\u2019s a marked preference for purebred dogs, with nearly 80% of owners opting for purebreds over mixed breeds.<\/span><\/p>\n

But the appeal of these pet shop animals obscures underlying abuses. Much of the mistreatment occurs out of sight, according to Feriel Yasmine Mahiddine, a Ph.D. student in veterinary medicine and a former insider of South Korea\u2019s pet industry.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMany breeders have farms where they keep breeding dogs in poor conditions. Meanwhile, they keep the pretty puppies at home or in the pet shop and only display them when a prospective buyer contacts them to purchase a dog. In many European countries, official breeders need to keep records of their work. In South Korea, there are fewer rules and regulations,\u201d Mahiddine said.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\t\t