Yongin City and Yongin Arts Science University Join Hands for Companion Animal Welfare

Agreement on Welfare Promotion and Adoption Encouragement

Yongin City in Gyeonggi Province and Yongin Arts and Science University have joined hands to foster local professional talent, enhance companion animal welfare, and promote adoption.

On the 12th, Yongin City and Yongin Arts and Science University signed a 'Memorandum of Understanding for the Promotion of Companion Animal Welfare and Adoption' at the city hall, attended by Yongin Mayor Lee Sang-il and Yongin Arts and Science University President Choi Seong-sik, the two organizations announced on the 13th.

Lee Sang-il, Mayor of Yongin (fifth from the left), and Choi Seong-sik from Yongin Arts and Culture University (sixth from the left) are holding the "Memorandum of Understanding for the Promotion of Companion Animal Welfare and Adoption."
[Photo by Yongin City]

Yongin Arts and Science University is equipped with a specialized education system including outdoor and indoor companion animal training grounds capable of behavior correction and rehabilitation education, a grooming practice room for on-site practical training, a food practice room for pet food and nutritional meal production, and a product development room for companion animal supplies.

Through this MOU, the two institutions plan to promote ▲strengthening local companion animal welfare functions and adoption promotion ▲conducting lectures on stray animal health, training, and grooming ▲regular social training such as cleaning and walking, and weekend volunteer care at animal protection centers by students ▲encouraging adoption by publicly sharing on social networking services (SNS) the process of students’ temporary care of stray animals ▲educational training for basic behavior correction of stray animals ▲and discovering business ideas to improve companion animal culture and welfare.

Mayor Lee Sang-il said, “As stray dogs have become a social issue, Yongin City is making efforts to foster a companion animal culture, with the highest adoption rate nationwide,” adding, “We expect to establish a better system through the agreement with Yongin Arts and Science University.” President Choi Seong-sik of Yongin Arts and Science University also stated, “25% of all households raise companion animals, and the related industry is rapidly developing,” and “We will strive to develop companion animal culture through cooperation with Yongin City.”

Meanwhile, Yongin City Animal Protection Center has maintained an average adoption rate of 65.2% from 2018 to the first half of this year, more than double the national average of 31%. The euthanasia rate is also 6.6%, lower than the national average of 14%. Due to this systematic operation, Yongin City Animal Protection Center has become a benchmarking target for major local governments.

A city official said, “We expect the adoption rate to increase further as companion animals are revitalized through grooming and training at the university’s well-equipped facilities.”

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