A Ban on Breeding Rottweilers Without Government Permission Introduced in South Korea 0 23

The Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Korea has announced that an updated animal protection law will come into effect on April 27, 2024. According to this law, dogs of breeds such as Tosa Inu, Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Rottweiler, and their mixes will be classified as "aggressive," which will entail special requirements for their keeping.

In particular, in order to own such a dog, the owner will be required to sterilize and register the animal, obtain liability insurance for potential harm caused by the dog to the health or property of third parties due to aggressive behavior, and obtain special permission from local or provincial authorities. This permission will be granted based on the results of a temperament assessment of the dog, which will be conducted by a specially established committee composed of veterinarians, canine experts, and animal psychologists.

It should be noted that the temperament assessment is a primary requirement for breeding and keeping dogs of "aggressive" breeds; however, a standard procedure for conducting such assessments has not yet been established. Furthermore, it will take time to select and appoint specialists to the temperament assessment committee, as well as to allocate the necessary facilities and resources for their work.

Nevertheless, owners of "aggressive" breed dogs are required to obtain the relevant permissions by October 26 of this year. According to reports citing a representative of the People’s Party, Lee Yang Soo, as of April 2024, there were 2,849 such dogs registered in the country. The updated law also introduces a number of additional restrictions on their keeping. In particular, these dogs can now only be walked with muzzles and on leashes no longer than two meters, and they are prohibited from being let off-leash in public places.

Dogs of any breed not included in the list will also have to undergo a temperament assessment if they become involved in incidents related to aggressive behavior.