Gyeongbuk Province Doubles 'Directly Managed Shelter for Abandoned Animals'... Supports 'Neutering of Companion Dogs'

Directly Managed Shelters for Stray Animals in Si/Gun Areas: Currently 7 → Expanded to 13 by Next Year
Stray Animals in Gyeongbuk: 3,800 in 2016 → Sharp Increase to 9,600 by End of Last Year

On October 24 last year, at a stray dog adoption event held in Itaewon, Seoul, stray dogs are seen waiting for new owners. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Park Dong-wook] Gyeongsangbuk-do announced on the 7th that it plans to expand directly managed shelters by city and county after conducting a survey on the status of abandoned animal shelters until the 26th.

Following a special directive from Governor Lee Cheol-woo, Gyeongbuk Province conducted a survey from the 21st to the 29th of last month targeting animal protection organizations, animal-related schools, and the general public to reflect in abandoned animal protection management policies, receiving 212 opinions.

The main points include ▲direct management of entrusted abandoned animal shelters ▲improvement of shelter facilities and protection environments ▲increasing adoption rates of shelter dogs and opposing euthanasia ▲expanding budgets related to companion animals such as neutering surgeries.

Based on the results of this survey, Gyeongbuk Province plans to increase the number of directly managed shelters by city and county from the current seven to thirteen by 2022, and conduct demand surveys by city and county to support neutering and improve breeding environments for companion dogs in rural areas.

Additionally, they plan to continuously promote the animal protection management system that enforces the registration obligation of companion animal owners, penalties for abandonment, and the ability to find lost pets or adopt animals.

Governor Lee Cheol-woo said, "There are still many owners who consider companion animals as personal property, are unaware of the registration requirement, or abandon their pets due to high medical costs or inability to care for them. We will reflect the voices of the people gathered this time in our policies to make Gyeongbuk a place where companion animals are happy."

Meanwhile, according to a survey by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, one in five citizens owns a companion animal, and in Gyeongsangbuk-do alone, the number of rescued abandoned animals increased from about 3,800 in 2016 to about 9,600 in 2020, showing that the number of abandoned animals has increased alongside the rise in companion animals.

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