(Illegal dog farm operation in Seosan)

The following is a request submitted to relevant authorities in the Seosan area (on Korea's mid-west coast) to shut down an illegal dog farm. The farm was investigated by KARA after a tip off.

Video evidence, shot secretly, was also presented with KARA's formal protest. The video is available here, in our dog industry research and investigation section, along with more stills from the video.

Request For the Closure of an Illegal Dog Farm

We strongly ask that you close down an illegal dog farm in your jurisdiction, located in Gobuk-myeon, Seosan-si, Choongnam.

Also, we would like to be informed of your past responses and administrative directions in relation to public complaints made about the dog farm.

1. Investigation Results

In March, 2009, KARA investigated the Seosan dog farm after receiving information about it from a member of KARA.

It was found that the dog farm raises dogs in deprived and miserable conditions. There was no management or sanitation whatsoever of the dog's excreta. This causes severe water pollution, and the residents around the dog farm who drink underground water are subjected to ill-smelling and contaminated water.

(Dogs in disgusting and appalling conditions.)

Even in early spring, flies are swarming everywhere because of the smell of dog excreta, resulting in more discomfort for nearby residents.

Moreover, the area where the dog farm is located should be a protected zone because wild animals, such as raccoons are often seen there. Even during the investigation by KARA several flocks of birds were observed.

KARA was informed by local inhabitants that this farm has already received administrative directions to rectify the deplorable condition of its facilities. In spite of that directive, nothing has been done except that a fence has been constructed to hide the illegal activities going on behind it.

You can see these facts in the submitted video.

(Poor dogs packed into tiny faeces encrusted cages.)

2. Justifications For Our Request

1) Removing health dangers: the dog farm has severely contaminated not only water resources, but also the environment because of the continuous discharge of raw sewage.

The holes under the cages are filled with faeces, rotten foods and water and this creates a horrible stench. These conditions attract harmful insects and are a breeding ground for bacteria of all kinds. This increases the risk of the spread of disease and threatens the health of local residents.

In addition, a fatal disease like bird flu might spread as a result of the close proximity of birds, wild animals and dogs where this farm is located combined with its unsanitary conditions.

The only solution in a situation like this is for the dog farm to be immediately removed. It has caused enough damage for the sake of one person's illegal activities and greed.

2) Public complaints and administrative requests ignored: according to KARA's investigation, the dog farm has not changed anything despite the administrative directions it received to do so.

We therefore question the manner in which the authorities are handling the issue and responding to public complaints. If authorities have failed to monitor this situation correctly, we require that this be rectified and that the appropriate administrative directions be clearly conveyed immediately to all concerned.

3) Facility improvements will not solve the problem: most dog farmers are out to make quick and illegal profits with no intention of investing in improvements or establishing facilities for the long term. For this reason, it is not effective to request that a so-called farmer improve the conditions of his dog farm.

Removal is the only way to properly solve all of the problems, and their root causes, of an illegal dog farm like this.