Gyeonggi-do to Operate 'Pet Day' Starting This Year... Pet Star Event on May 4

Gyeonggi Province has designated the Saturday of the week containing 'Children's Day in May' (May 5) as 'Companion Animal Day' starting this year. Accordingly, Gyeonggi Province will hold 'The Birth of a New Family, 2024 Gyeonggi PETSTA' at Banryeomaru Hwaseong on June 4.

Gyeonggi Province's Companion Animal Day was established in accordance with the 'Gyeonggi Province Companion Animal Protection and Culture Promotion Ordinance' enacted in April last year, with the purpose of making children, who will be responsible for and lead the future of companion animals, the main focus.

This year's event is designed to allow both pet owners and non-pet owners to participate in fostering a healthy companion animal culture together with new family members, the companion animals.

Gyeonggi Province will hold the first pet event of the year, Pet Star, at Banryeomaru Hwaseong on the 4th of next month.

Considering that this is the first event of the year, Gyeonggi Province will hold the 'Gyeonggi Companion Animal Day Proclamation Ceremony.' At the ceremony, Gyeonggi Province plans to convey a message in line with the 'Gyeonggi Aniwell' (Animal Welfare) vision, which promotes happiness for both humans and animals, recognizing companion animals not as possessions for human pleasure but as beings to be mutually respected.

At the event venue, Banryeomaru Hwaseong, the first specialized cat adoption center among metropolitan local governments will also open. This facility can temporarily shelter 100 cats and is expected to set standards for cat protection and adoption management, contributing to the revitalization of the cat adoption culture.

Following the proclamation ceremony for Companion Animal Day, a talk show with adopted stray dog families and a singer's performance will be held, hosted by broadcaster Park Suhong, a cat owner.

In addition, there will be a companion animal industry forum, promotional booths, adoption counseling for military dogs (retired dogs), and various animal welfare and companion animal policy promotion booths from Gyeonggi Province.

Park Yeon-gyeong, head of the Companion Animal Division of Gyeonggi Province, said, "Gyeonggi Province is the first in the nation to designate Companion Animal Adoption Week from April 28 to May 4 and is implementing various policies to promote the culture of adopting abandoned animals." She added, "We hope that 2024 PETSTA will become a mature companion animal cultural festival where pet owners, non-pet owners, and prospective pet owners can all enjoy."

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