194,000 Pet Households... Incheon City Prepares Life Cycle-Based Measures for Companion Animals

Incheon City announced on the 2nd that it has prepared a 'Comprehensive Measures for the Life Cycle of Companion Animals' to systematically manage companion animals from birth to funeral.

With the rapid increase in the population raising companion animals due to the rise of single-person households, low birth rates, and aging, the city decided to promote comprehensive measures for companion animals to meet the demand for companion animal protection and welfare and to minimize inconveniences for non-pet owners.

Accordingly, the city plans to promote four key policy areas?animal protection, animal welfare, companion animal industry, and system improvement?under the vision of creating a "Happy City Where People and Animals Live Together."

First, the city plans to expand and remodel the management building of Munhak Tunnel in Yeonsu-gu to establish a Companion Animal Welfare Culture Center, which will carry out companion animal education, create a welfare culture space for companion animals, and support adoption services.

Additionally, the city will increase the number of companion animal playgrounds currently operating in four parks?Namdong-gu (Incheon Grand Park), Gyeyang-gu (Kkotmaru Park), Yeonsu-gu (Songdo Dalbit Park), and Michuhol-gu (Munhak Mountain Companion Animal Playground)?to a total of 10 by 2026.

Pet playground in Songdo Dalbit Park
[Photo provided by Incheon City]

The city will support medical expenses for companion animals of vulnerable groups, activate the operation of honorary animal protection monitors, strengthen guidance and inspections of companion animal businesses, promote transparency in veterinary treatment fees, and push for mandatory registration of companion cats, which is currently being piloted.

Furthermore, the city plans to consider and promote the long-term establishment of a companion animal theme park, including public burial facilities.

In addition, the city will revise the 'Ordinance on Animal Protection and Management' to strengthen the compliance obligations of companion animal owners and actively conduct on-site guidance and crackdowns on violators.

According to the 2020 Population and Housing Census, 194,000 households in Incheon are raising a total of 323,600 companion animals (177,480 dogs and 59,640 cats).

Also, the number of animals registered in Incheon has increased by an average of 13% annually, from 128,375 in 2020 to 161,154 in 2021, and 181,490 last year.

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