‘Seocho Animal Love Center’ New Journey with Companion Animals

Various Pet Owner Education Programs: Problem Behavior Correction Training, Walking Training, Basic Dog Behavior Video Training, and More Newly Offered

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Seocho-gu (Mayor Eunhee Cho) is hosting various pet-related programs through the ‘Seocho Animal Love Center’ to create a city where residents and their companion animals can be happy together.

The Seocho Animal Love Center was established in December 2018 and has been directly operated by the district to reduce abandoned and lost animals and to foster a proper companion animal culture.

Last year, it was recognized for its achievements by winning the Korea Companion Animal Culture Award (Grand Prize in the Local Government category).

Nevertheless, the district is taking a step further to achieve the grand goal of ‘Making Seocho a Happy Place for Companion Animals.’ By entrusting the operation of the ‘Seocho Animal Love Center’ to an organization specialized in companion animal education, it plans to evolve the center into a space where both pets and their owners can empathize.

Starting this year, the ‘Seocho Animal Love Center’ is operated under consignment by the non-profit organization ‘City Without Abandoned Dogs’ (CEO Jimin Kim), which was established in 2014. This organization specializes in dog education and has conducted various companion animal festivals, cultural classes, pet education, as well as life education for infants and adolescents. In particular, through continuous research and investment for a mature companion culture, it has developed various programs for dogs and their owners.

After upgrading the Seocho Animal Love Center into a space suitable for practical training, the center will launch the full-scale educational program ‘Seocho Companion Dog Academy’ starting from the 18th.

The program will include ?enhanced pre- and post-adoption education ?customized pet education (life stage and problem behavior correction) ?special lectures related to companion animals and guest lectures ?life respect education, and will promote various gatherings mediated by companion animals such as walking groups and homecoming days. Notably, the ‘Pet Loss Group’ is a program attempted for the first time nationwide at the ‘Seocho Animal Love Center,’ expected to help overcome ‘pet loss syndrome’ experienced after losing a companion animal.

Additionally, free online educational videos will be provided to share comprehensive knowledge about basic dog behavior.

The program period is scheduled for the first half of the year (March to June), and applications will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis starting at 10 a.m. on the 8th.

For detailed information about program applications and operations, inquiries can be made to the Seocho Animal Love Center. The district also plans to share news about the center through the district office website and separate SNS channels to make it easily accessible to residents.

The first program launched this year is ‘Enhanced Pre- and Post-Adoption Education.’

Since the most important founding purpose of the ‘Seocho Animal Love Center’ is the return of lost dogs and encouragement of re-adoption of abandoned dogs, the center immediately switched to a reservation consultation system, fearing prolonged temporary closure due to COVID-19. It carefully manages the procedures and pre-adoption education for responsible adoption. Furthermore, this year, the district will support up to 150,000 KRW adoption fees for dog owners adopting from the Seocho Animal Love Center.

As a result of these efforts, on February 16 and 17, two dogs left the center to find new families. The protagonists are ‘Hongcha’ and ‘Mingki,’ both estimated to be 5 years old.

Silky Terrier ‘Mingki’ was called ‘Silky’ throughout the stay at the center. The adopter, Mr. Yoo ○○, who has extensive experience raising dogs, gave ‘Silky’ the new name ‘Mingki.’ Although this is the second adoption dog in 2021, it is the earliest in terms of adoption date. Eager to take ‘Mingki’ home quickly, the adopter promptly completed the required visit and education procedures requested by the center.

‘Hongcha,’ who was adopted and left the center on February 17, has been abandoned twice as confirmed. About two years ago, the owner who left ‘Hongcha’ at a pet hotel in Seocho-gu did not return to pick up the dog, and for some reason, ‘Hongcha’ was admitted to the center as an abandoned dog in December last year.

Although ‘Hongcha’ barked a lot at first when the owner visited on weekdays, the barking decreased with repeated visits. The owner decided to adopt and all family members actively participated and completed pre-adoption education.

Staff at the Seocho Animal Love Center, who had grown deeply attached to ‘Mingki’ over several months, reportedly shed tears with a bittersweet feeling like parents sending off their child when ‘Mingki’ left the center with a new family on February 16.

Seocho-gu Mayor Eunhee Cho stated, “The upgraded Seocho Animal Love Center is expected to become a beloved space for all residents.” She added, “We will continue to prepare various programs to create a city where all life is respected and people and animals coexist harmoniously.”

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