PEOPLE who starve their pets to death in South Korea may face jail time from next year, said the Agriculture Ministry today, as the government seeks to prevent animal abuse and protect them following the growing number of animal owners.

Under the revision of the Animal Protection Act, pet owners can face up to three years’ jail or a fine of up to 30 million won (RM104,000) if found responsible for the deaths of their pets by not feeding them, reported Yonhap news agency.

The revision is set to be promulgated tomorrow, though it will not take effect until April 27, 2023, according to the Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Ministry.

Currently, such acts of negligence are not subject to punishment as they are not deemed animal abuse, it added.

From April 2024, it said, those who want to raise five “dangerous” dog breeds must get state approval, as the country is seeing a growing number of accidents caused by canines.

The five breeds are the American pit bull terrier, American Staffordshire terrier, Staffordshire bull terrier, Rottweiler and Tosa Inu.

South Korea last year required the owners of such breeds to take out insurance for damage caused by their pets and potential injuries to others.

KF Financial Group said 6.04 million households – 29.7% of the total households in South Korea – are raising pets, mostly dogs, as of end of 2020, citing ministry and survey data. – Bernama, April 25, 2022.