Google News: 70% of Korean Pet Owners Agree to Annual Registration Taxes
Seven out of ten pet owners in Korea agree to implement annual registration taxes or fees for their animals, revealing a strong support for increased responsibility in pet parenting, according to a recent report by AWARE, an Animal Welfare Problem Research Institute. Activation of this tax could impact a wide range of audience, from pet owners to policy makers, drawing attention to the growing importance of pet welfare in the nation.
Pet Ownership Trends in Korea
A survey conducted by AWARE in collaboration with the Korea Research International polling agency indicated that dogs (73.4%) and cats (32.7%) are the most popular pets in Korea. The majority of pet owners (77.4%) have just one pet, with dogs being the most commonly owned animals.
The survey also highlighted that 46.6% of pets were acquired from acquaintances, with pet shops and online sales following behind. Adoptions from shelters remain relatively low, representing less than 10% of total pet adoptions.
Pet Resisting and Care Concerns
About half of the respondents indicated that their pets were free to sell them for acquaintances, raising concerns over non-planned breeding and individual animal transactions. Furthermore, 15.6% of the respondents had to transfer or abandon their pets in the last five years, primarily due to animal health problems or lifestyle changes.
Less than a fifth of the companion animals were spayed or neutered, which raised alarms for non-planned breeding and dumping of unwanted pets.
Policy Suggestions and Popular Views
To address these concerns, 88.4% of the respondents agreed on the introduction of a pet adoption pre-training system, while 71% supported annual registration fees or taxes on pets. On average, respondents believed that an annual pet tax of 160,000 won is appropriate, with only 29.7% proposing less than 50,000 won.
AWARE emphasized the need for Weight Control Measures, with recommendations to introduce differential registration fees based on the neutralization status of pets. Major international examples, including the practices in the United States, Canada, Australia, and Singapore, support a similar approach.
The report underscores the public’s commitment to ensuring proper pet welfare and highlights the necessity for concrete policies to support this shared responsibility within Korean pet parenting culture. Check out more breaking news and insights on Archyde.com for additional updates and analysis.
