Public Etiquette Training for Companion Dogs... Mapo-gu Companion Animal Culture Class in Operation

Mapo-gu First Half Year Pet Culture Class Application Open April 26 - May 7...Systematic Program from Adoption Preparation to Dog Walking

[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] “I want to adopt and raise a stray animal. How can I do that?” “My dog suddenly bares its teeth and tries to bite while playing happily.” “I want to know how to walk my dog politely.”

Mapo-gu (Mayor Yoo Dong-gyun) will operate the ‘Pet Culture Class’ in the first half of 2021 to foster a mature pet culture in response to the increase in pet care households.

This course is designed to provide basic understanding of pets and proper pet etiquette (public manners for pets) information to residents who want to adopt stray animals and pet owners.

The theoretical lectures, held over a total of three sessions, will accept 20 people per session, and the practical lectures, held four times with dogs, will accept 10 applicants per session on a first-come, first-served basis.

Residents who wish to take the program can apply by visiting the Mapo-gu Regional Economy Division or accessing the QR code by May 7. Participation is free of charge.

The first half of the year’s Pet Culture Class will be conducted from May 15 to June 11, combining theory and practice during the period.

The theoretical lectures start on May 15 with the topic ‘Basic Dog Behavior Training,’ presenting training methods for beginner dog owners and solutions for problematic dog behaviors. On June 1, the lecture titled ‘Starting Pet Life, Preparing for Dog Adoption’ will cover pet owners’ responsibilities and dog socialization education. On June 11, ‘Medical Knowledge for Dogs by Life Cycle’ will be held.

There will also be a Q&A session with participants after the lectures.

The practical sessions, titled ‘Dog Walking Education and Pet Etiquette,’ will be held four times at World Cup Park on May 15, May 29, June 5, and June 8, where participants can join with their dogs on one chosen day. However, depending on the COVID-19 situation, all education may be switched to non-face-to-face formats.

The instructors are Director Taehui Kwak of Nollo Care Center, Deputy Director Areum Park of the Well-Raised Animal Welfare Action Research Institute, and Director Heejin Kim of Uri Animal Hospital Life Cooperative.

Meanwhile, since establishing the Animal Protection Team in 2019, the district has been implementing various animal welfare policy projects including operating the Pet Culture Class, protecting and rescuing abandoned and abused animals, supporting medical expenses for adopting stray animals, installing feeding stations for stray cats, operating honorary animal protection monitors, and running a public-private joint animal welfare network task force.

Yoo Dong-gyun, Mayor of Mapo-gu, said, “This course operation will be a great opportunity to increase understanding of pets and learn how to prevent problematic behaviors,” adding, “We will continue to promote various projects where people and animals can coexist to establish a desirable pet culture and create an animal-friendly city.”

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