Posted by petlove on November 26, 2001 at 09:17:13:
Sons Of Dog, Don't Kill Your Mother I'm a dog lover
- Pet also killed like this -
Money first pet shop owner
They say it's healthy dog, they never use money for health
See the next image
kill the crying dog with a disease, even if customer's
(KSB is Korean Broadcasting System)
Korean law protect dog merchant
(dog is food, boiled dog is called "BOSINTANG")
Today, do you wanna kill for fun?
Remember, you are also world's pet peeve
Ugly korean, you are nothing, you just japanese "BOSINTANG"
Dogs Become Most Popular Pets in Korea
hayj@koreatimes.co.kr
By Ha Yoo-jung
Stafff Reporter
At an international expo for dog products held in Seoul last December, dozens of people were standing in a polite row waiting to receive an engraved dog collar with their pet's name carefully spelled out in English.
They had to wait a half hour. Nothing can stop them from squandering away their time, waiting and waiting, just so that their little puppies can enjoy a collar which they won't even be able to read. A collar is a collar as far as the dog is concerned.
In the face of the dog shows and street canine festivals that have become ubiquitous since the early '90s, dogs have rapidly become the most popular companion animal in Korea, snubbing popularity of other pets such as gold fish, turtles, or baby chickens.
According to the Korea Kennel Club, 70 percent of Koreans reply that dogs are their favorite pet. It is estimated that about two million dogs are raised as co-habitants in Korean households.
Likewise, the total value of the dog-related business here is around 800 billion won per year. Using Japanese canine consumption as a model, the dog market in Korea is forecast to grow up to 5 trillion won in the near future. The dog food business alone nets 2 trillion yen a year in Japan.
Now, many Korean dogs are enjoying luxurious living conditions as well as their owner's affection. Unlike past generations of dog, which were fed with leftovers and lived in small, filthy outdoor cages, these days a lucky dog can eat canned delicacies specially prescribed by expert vets and take nutritional supplements to have more beautiful hair. They sleep in beds with a cushion and are regularly brought to hospitals and beauty parlors for canine care. Of course, exercise for good shape of body is never neglected. All these seem to explain a change in people's wallets and attitudes: dogs have to be respected their dignity.
Still, as many Koreans admit, busy city life and crammed apartments hardly allow proper environments for raising healthy dogs. A Lack of space, a lack of attention and a lack of care cannot be made up for by money.
``Dog breeding was started by aristocrats in western countries as an established hobby requiring responsibilities from dog breeders. However, probably because people love dogs too much, we tend to buy dogs first and think later how to raise it in our tiny quarters,'' said Choi Ji-yong, director of the Korea Kennel Club.
Possibly that is why many dog lovers in Korea have been extremely creative in seeking alternative breeds of dog, leading to dog breeding culture only to be found in crowded Asian cities. Dog fashion took Tokyo and Hong Kong by storm. Now it's hitting Seoul.
Those who want their pets to breathe fresh, clean air drive out to visit official dog venues, such as Igloo, the self-professed ``first dog mania caf?in Korea.''
For those who have been waiting for more options in with-dog- entertainment, Igloo in Chongdam-dong, southern Seoul, is, literally, a shelter. Waiters, toilet paper and cleanser in hand, are busy cleaning floors and removing filth for both the two-legged and four-legged visitors.
But their dog acceptance only goes so far: if a dog tastes your coffee before you do, they kindly serve you another cup.
While it is located a fair distance from other entertainment districts, it already has diehard fans who convene meetings regularly, planning both on- and off-line.
Encouraged by the popularity of places like Igloo, some people are trying to make a walking map for dog lovers of Seoul.
``By compiling information on recommended venues for dog lovers, we are currently working on `maps for dogs,' which will highlight dog friendly places,'' said an employee at trumong.com. (Mong is the sound that a dog makes in Korean when it barks. Woof-woof becomes mong-mong.)
Dog lovers are also taking advantage of new business opportunities in this web-savvy era.
Shopping for dogs is much easier than before, as a variety of products, as well as experts' referrals, are now available online. The potential of the expanding dog product market is seen in such online shopping malls and portal sites catering to Korean dog maniacs as puppyzen.com and yespet.co.kr.
With the Internet dog owners can promote friendship with other breeders and exchange information. While they post photos and articles showing off their dogs, advertisements to sell newborn puppies are often spotted.
Though an experts' certificate verifying health condition is not available, the cheaper price attracts many of those desiring designer dogs.
Besides private dealings between friends, pet shops that specialize in dealing with puppies are flourishing.
Starting in the 1960s Chungmuro, around Toegyero 4- and 5-ga, became well known as an area for one-stop dog shopping (some cat products are available as well). There you can find a whole slew of pet shops, cage makers, veterinarians and breeding clubs.
Following the opening of a veterinary hospital, the Taehan Pet Shop started business in 1969 and the area began to win the title of ``Dog District.'' Now with some 50-odd pet shops and pet product stores, there are even a number of training programs for prospective groomers, or beauticians, for canine or feline, and whole stores selling chew-toys exclusively for dogs.
In stark contrast to such peaceful scenes of sleeping puppies through the windows of Chungmuro, there has arisen a recent tension between the pet shop district and consumers.
In a move to chide the Chungmuro shop owners for selling puppies with immune system deficiencies, at the end of last year, a group of angry netizens launched an anti-Chungmuro web site at www.petnara.com, meaning `pet country' in English. The related court ruling stipulating conditions of compensation for unhealthy pets took effect in 1999, but it seems not enough to relieve continued tension.
Some believe that the two month long tit-for-tat is only one of an array of problems dog lovers will face, the biggest being the lack of a legal infrastructure duly regulating dog and other pet ownership.
Director Choi of the Korea Kennel Club points out that Korea does not have incinerators to dispose of the bodies of departed pets. The current law, which classifies dead animal bodies as general debris, bans burial of dogs and imposes a monetary penalty up to one million won. He says it is infuriating many innocent dog lovers who simply want to entomb their loving pets and to pay a due farewell.
``I think it's time for the government to recognize the fact that dogs are part of our life and introduce relevant and viable regulations,'' said Choi, urging government to take steps in building an incinerator for animals.
Lost dogs wandering on the street are another headache Korea has but still no one has a permanent solution. The Seoul City Government captured 1,567 dogs wandering on the street last year and caught 476 in March alone. It was reported that the number is on the rise.
The Korea Kennel Club, a non-profit organization with regular members of around 85,000, advises prospective dog owners to rethink before making a decision and to be responsible for their chosen pets.
``True dog lovers must recognize that dogs will be happy when they are treated as dogs. Also, we must always acknowledge that our hobby should eventually contribute to the social interests,'' Choi said.
The Korea Kennel Club says that its number one priority is to increase the number of purebred dogs. Most people are unaware of the fact that Korea is importing a number of dogs every year as indigenous characteristics of specific pedigrees are being watered down and are disappearing in the face of careless crossbreeding. The objective of issuing certificates of pedigree, or of registering dogs at the local kennel club, is often simply ignored.
Impunity and negligence may lead to extinction of a breed. Or to the creation of new breeds. According to the Federation Cynologique Internationale, the Jindo dog, an indigenous Korean breed, popular as a guard dog, is yet to be recognized as one of about 370 official breeds of the world canine organization.
Information on Selection of dogs
According to the Korea Kennel Club, the five most favorite dogs in Korea are Jindo, Shih Tzu, Maltese, Schnauzers and Yorkshire Terriers.
If your dog is to be a life companion, following current fads is not a good idea. For example, when the movie 101 Dalmatians was released in the U.S., many people rushed out to buy a Dalmatian without a second thought.
They soon found that the dog is not as friendly as shown in the film and that it often looses hair.
Therefore, experts advise to think over why you want a dog.
*Dogs for kids: You had better avoid dogs which tend to attack people or which are too blithe, both possibly causing accidents. Also, bear in mind that dogs should be healthy, as children will want to play with them all day. Spaniels, Yorkshire Terriers, Shih Tzu, Maltese, and Retrievers are good choices.
*People who live alone: If you live alone and have no one else to take care of your dog, a mild character is advisable. You will like Pugs, Miniature Schnauzers, or Shih Tzu.
*Families with seniors: A dog sensitive to change in the surroundings will be helpful for more security, but should be easily trained and controlled.
Poodles and Miniature Pinschers are recommended.
*Families who love outdoor sports: You will like dogs that follow their owners well and have cheerful character, such as Retrievers, Schnauzers, Standard Poodles, German Shepherds and Belgian Sheep Dogs.
For more information, contact the Korea Kennel Club at (02) 2265-3349 or visit its homepage, www.dogs.or.kr
hayj@koreatimes.co.kr