Nowon-gu Actively Promotes Culture of Adopting Stray Dogs

Support for welcoming new families through a reflection period of more than 10 days and home visit education

Adoption fee support of up to 150,000 KRW per adopted animal (including examination, neutering surgery, etc.)

Leading awareness improvement so that adopting abandoned dogs does not feel difficult by sharing updates after adoption

Nowon-gu (Mayor Oh Seung-rok) is carrying out various projects to spread the culture of adopting abandoned dogs.

According to the Animal Protection Management System operated by the Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency, the number of abandoned animals in South Korea in 2022 was 113,594. As the number of households raising companion animals increases, the number of abandoned animals also rises every year, but only 29.7% of them are adopted, while half end their lives by natural death (28.6%) or euthanasia (19.3%).

In response, the district is implementing various pet-friendly policies such as finding new owners for abandoned dogs, supporting adoption fees, and creating dog playgrounds.

First, the ‘Nowon Daengdaeng House’ connects abandoned dogs with new owners. ‘Nowon Daengdaeng House’ is a companion animal culture center established by the district in 2020 to reduce abandoned and lost animals and to establish a proper companion animal culture.

Prospective adopters visit Daengdaeng House, receive counseling, and complete a pre-adoption checklist. Then, a reflection period of more than 10 days is given to allow sufficient consideration of adopting a companion animal. During this period, adopters must visit in person at least twice and express their intention to adopt. Once adoption is confirmed, adopters are required to complete two pre-adoption education sessions and two post-adoption education sessions. Before adoption, education covers preparation and basic knowledge for becoming a companion animal family, and after adoption, home visits are conducted to provide practical education on proper care as a guardian of the companion animal.

The reflection period of more than 10 days and home visit education are special programs unique to Nowon Daengdaeng House designed to prevent impulsive adoptions that lead to rehoming or abandonment. Since 2020, a total of 30 dogs have been adopted through this program, and there has been not a single case of abandonment.

Currently, three abandoned dogs are available for adoption at Daengdaeng House: Bamtol, Nurungji, and Baechu. Bamtol (male, 5 years old) and Nurungji (female, 5 years old) are Pomeranians, and Baechu (male, 1 year old) is a mixed breed. Detailed information can be found on the ‘Nowon Daengdaeng House’ website.

The website also allows checking how well adopted dogs are adapting to their new homes. Gopselmeori (female, 2 years old, Bichon Frise), adopted last December, showed wariness and aggression while living at the center but is now living comfortably with her new guardian.

Adoption fees are also supported. Up to 60% of the costs for examinations, vaccinations, neutering surgery, etc., are covered, with a maximum of 150,000 KRW per adopted animal. Applications must be made within six months of adoption, and adopters can enroll free of charge in the Seoul City Abandoned Animal Safety Insurance for one year after adoption, which covers treatment and surgery costs for diseases and injuries, including oral and skin diseases.

The district is creating a themed dog playground for healthy leisure where people and animals can interact. It is being established within Bulamsan Healing Town, covering 1,000㎡, and is scheduled for completion this year.

In addition, the district leads a mature companion culture through the nation’s first holiday period dog shelter operation, support projects for companion animals of vulnerable groups, and hosting companion animal cultural festivals.

Mayor Oh Seung-rok said, “I hope that through the adoption of abandoned dogs who have suffered, a proper companion animal culture that respects animal life will be established,” and added, “We will continue to actively strive to make Nowon a place where people and animals happily coexist.”

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