"500,000 Won Reward for One Wild Dog" Incheon Stray Dog Capture Operation... Controversy Amid 200 Dogs Running

A video of stray dogs appearing, reported by an Incheon resident to the district office. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Hana Na] As complaints about wild dog sightings continue in the Incheon area, local governments are conducting a project that rewards private companies based on the number of wild dogs they capture.

According to Incheon City on the 31st, last year, eight out of ten districts in the Incheon area cooperated with private companies to capture approximately 200 wild dogs.

Each local government launched the capture project by commissioning private specialized companies after receiving numerous complaints that wild dogs, including abandoned dogs, were roaming in packs, causing fear among residents and actual dog bite incidents.

The local governments announced that they would pay about 500,000 KRW per adult wild dog and 200,000 to 300,000 KRW per puppy captured.

The city initially allocated a budget of about 53 million KRW to capture 106 adult wild dogs, but it is estimated that the actual number captured reached 200.

Each district used up the wild dog capture budget allocated by Incheon City and then used their own budgets to continue capturing wild dogs.

An Incheon City official said, "The exact number of wild dogs captured is being compiled. For this year, we have prepared a budget of about 60 million KRW to capture 120 adult wild dogs and plan to secure additional funds."

Meanwhile, as opposition voices against the project to capture wild dogs appearing in urban areas grow, conflicts are also arising.

Residents concerned about damage caused by wild dogs are in favor of expanding the capture project.

On November 2nd last year, at a poultry farm in Seonhak-dong, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon, 250 out of 300 chickens being raised were found dead. The farm owner suspects wild dogs to be responsible.

Also, in March last year, several calves, goats, and chickens were killed by wild dogs at farms in Danam-dong and Ihwa-dong, Gyeyang-gu.

On the other hand, some residents, including animal lovers, oppose the wild dog capture project, arguing that private companies indiscriminately capture even puppies for rewards despite wild dogs causing little damage.

An official from a local government in Incheon explained, "On one hand, we receive complaints asking to capture them, and on the other hand, complaints asking not to capture them, which makes it difficult. While continuously capturing wild dogs to prevent possible dog bite accidents, we are also seeking understanding from residents who oppose the project."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.