Petition to Urge the South Korean Government to Ban Dog Tethering and Amend the Animal Protection Act

📍 Why We Are Speaking Out  

In rural areas of South Korea, countless dogs live their entire lives chained to a short chain, often no longer than one meter. These dogs suffer through the scorching sun of summer, the freezing cold of winter, and complete isolation from love, play, and freedom. Most of them are chained outdoors 24/7, unable to move freely, without proper shelter or protection. Some don’t even have access to clean water or food within their reach. Many die alone, without ever feeling kindness or comfort.  This isn’t “pet ownership.” This is life imprisonment. 

🔥 Why It’s Urgent  

• Chaining causes lifelong physical and psychological harm. It leads to aggression, trauma, malnutrition, and severe stress.  
• Weather extremes are deadly. In summer, dogs suffer heatstroke and dehydration. In winter, many freeze to death on icy concrete floors.  
• Natural disasters are fatal. In floods, fires, and typhoons, chained dogs are unable to escape and often perish helplessly.  

South Korea is falling behind. Countries like Austria, Switzerland, and many U.S. states have banned or restricted tethering. Yet in Korea, it remains legal, unregulated, and ignored. 

📢 What We’re Demanding  

We urge the National Assembly of South Korea to take the following steps immediately: 

1. Legally ban the tethering of dogs in all forms  

• Declare chaining dogs as a form of structural animal cruelty.  

• Ban prolonged or permanent outdoor tethering, regardless of region or property type.  

• Recognize the dog’s right to movement, safety, and humane living conditions. 

2. Enforce a temporary minimum welfare standard (until tethering is fully eliminated)  If any tethering is allowed in the interim, it must meet strict legal standards, including:

• Living Space: Minimum 28㎡ (302 sq ft) movement area
• Standard Requirement Leash Length Minimum 3 meters (10 ft), rotating hook required 
• Flooring: No bare concrete or metal; insulated or wooden surfaces only
• Shelter: Covered doghouse + shade
• Weather Protection: Must be brought indoors or provided heating/cooling in extreme weather (over 30℃ or below 0℃)
• Food/Water Fresh food twice daily; clean water changed daily (twice in summer)
• Exercise Minimum 30 mins daily walk or free play in open space
• Emotional Care: Must not be left completely alone 24/7; at least weekly human interaction required
• Disaster Protocol Mandatory: leash release during disasters for evacuation.
• Monitoring: Annual government welfare inspection and public reporting

 
3. Provide government support to rural dog owners  

• Subsidies or grants for building fenced enclosures or kennels  

• Welfare education and consultation programs  

• Pilot “Chain-Free Villages” and reward participation

🌎 Why International Support Matters  

This is more than a Korean issue. It’s a global call for compassion.  By supporting this petition, you help pressure lawmakers to act. Together, we can amplify the voices of those who cannot speak for themselves — the dogs suffering in silence. 

❤️ How You Can Help  

• Sign this petition and share it widely  

• Post using hashtags: #BanTetheringInKorea #LifeOnAOneMeterLeash #DogsDeserveFreedom  

• Email this campaign to animal organizations and journalists  

• Create reels, TikToks, or Instagram posts to spread awareness  

• Tell the South Korean government: The world is watching.   

A leash is not love. A chain is not care. It’s time to unchain Korea’s dogs — and unchain our silence.  Please sign. Please share. Let’s end this cruelty.

Written by: Eunjae Lee (Instagram: @ejl.eee / Email: ejl0713@gmail.com)