ID :
150374
Mon, 07/11/2011 - 08:00
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/150374
The shortlink copeid
Animal Rights
(EDITORIAL from the Korea Times on July 11)
A growing number of people regard their pets as part of their family. Many of them prefer to use the term companions instead of pets. They usually take good care of their companions as if they are their own kids. It wouldn't be out of place to say pets now get better treatment than ever before.
But, the nation still finds it hard to shake off its negative image of abusing animals. Internet users often post video files showing people beating or even killing dogs and cats without feeling any qualms about their brutality.
Last week, the National Assembly passed a revision to an animal protection law designed to impose harsher punishment on the abusers. They may face prison terms starting next year if they are found to mistreat animals.
When the revised law goes into effect, people mistreating their pets may spend time in prison for up to one year, or pay a maximum fine of 10 million won ($9,400). It is the first time for the nation to include a jail sentence as a penalty for ill-treating animals.
Currently, the toughest measure is a maximum fine of 5 million won. Anyone can hardly expect such a light penalty to serve as an effective deterrence against rampant animal abuses across the nation. Although the revision was made belatedly, it is fortunate to have stronger clauses to prevent pet abuses.
The authorities have had difficulties cracking down on animal abusers due to a lack of legal grounds. In October 2010, a district court handed down a suspended jail term to a woman in her 20s for having her cat thrown to death from her high-rise apartment after repeatedly beating it.
The problem with the court decision was that the judge had to apply a property damage law to the case because a prison sentence was not possible under the animal protection law. What a farce it was for the court to treat the ill-fated cat not as a pet but as property!
Now, the nation has the legal framework to put animal abusers in jail. But the question is how to enforce the new clauses to better protect pets. Some may argue that ensuring animal rights is still a luxury as the country still has many things to do to promote human rights.
But, the nation can no longer delay its fight against pet abusers. Better projection of animals and their rights is indispensible in our efforts to show respect for life and advocate a spirit of coexistence between man and nature. Animals deserve their own rights and wellbeing as much as people are entitled to human rights.
A growing number of people regard their pets as part of their family. Many of them prefer to use the term companions instead of pets. They usually take good care of their companions as if they are their own kids. It wouldn't be out of place to say pets now get better treatment than ever before.
But, the nation still finds it hard to shake off its negative image of abusing animals. Internet users often post video files showing people beating or even killing dogs and cats without feeling any qualms about their brutality.
Last week, the National Assembly passed a revision to an animal protection law designed to impose harsher punishment on the abusers. They may face prison terms starting next year if they are found to mistreat animals.
When the revised law goes into effect, people mistreating their pets may spend time in prison for up to one year, or pay a maximum fine of 10 million won ($9,400). It is the first time for the nation to include a jail sentence as a penalty for ill-treating animals.
Currently, the toughest measure is a maximum fine of 5 million won. Anyone can hardly expect such a light penalty to serve as an effective deterrence against rampant animal abuses across the nation. Although the revision was made belatedly, it is fortunate to have stronger clauses to prevent pet abuses.
The authorities have had difficulties cracking down on animal abusers due to a lack of legal grounds. In October 2010, a district court handed down a suspended jail term to a woman in her 20s for having her cat thrown to death from her high-rise apartment after repeatedly beating it.
The problem with the court decision was that the judge had to apply a property damage law to the case because a prison sentence was not possible under the animal protection law. What a farce it was for the court to treat the ill-fated cat not as a pet but as property!
Now, the nation has the legal framework to put animal abusers in jail. But the question is how to enforce the new clauses to better protect pets. Some may argue that ensuring animal rights is still a luxury as the country still has many things to do to promote human rights.
But, the nation can no longer delay its fight against pet abusers. Better projection of animals and their rights is indispensible in our efforts to show respect for life and advocate a spirit of coexistence between man and nature. Animals deserve their own rights and wellbeing as much as people are entitled to human rights.
