You might come across some pets being abandoned by anonymous owners on the street. This issue became not only a matter of individual conscience but also a social problem. The reason is that even though the owners who abandoned their pets are identified, there is no law to punish them. So, they abuse this loophole and abandon their pets on the street. It seems to me, therefore, that there should be a law prohibiting people from abandoning their pets.

 First, as I mentioned above, there is no law to punish owners who abandoned their pets. So, they abandon pets outside without any responsibility and it brings about abandoned and dying pets a lot on the street. Although there are a few care centers for abandoned pets, neither the capacity nor the manpower is enough to look after them. Also, especially young children or students can take it for granted to abandon pets because they can easily witness this problem many times through the media. So, the law prohibiting abandoning pets is necessary.
 If so, how can this law prohibit abandoning pets? As I look at it, basically, there are not any ways to identify the owners of abandoned pets before punishing them. So, it should be a must that all pets have a special collar around their neck which contains the pets' information such as birthday, age, or their owner. If it is easy to identify the owner of pets, the ratio of abandoning pets can be drastically decreased. Therefore, this measure can not only give the owners responsibility for their pets but also instill into people the idea that pets' life is as important as ours.
 What if people violate the law? What penalty should be appropriate? The government should impose a fine on an owner who refuses the special collar with pets and who is being detected in abandoning pets. But, if people abandon their pets habitually, the repeated offender should be given a jail sentence. The reason is that both human beings and pets have life and nobody can weigh whose life is comparatively of consequence.
 Perhaps this law cannot root out this evil conduct thoroughly; nevertheless, this problem should be an open question in order to eradicate. By making a feasible bill, the life of pets should be under protection. Besides, the person who abandons pets on the street should get severe punishment. Those measures can alert people to the importance of life even though it is a small pet. Don't forget the love we give to pets and we are given by them.
 
Shin Seul-ki (English Education 4th)
 
저작권자 © 원광대학교 신문방송사 무단전재 및 재배포 금지