Gimpo City Sees Significant Results from Expanded Stray and Abandoned Animal Capture Team

365 Feral Dogs Captured in First Half of the Year... 46% Increase Year-on-Year
Gimpo City Specifies Protection and Relocation Measures for Abandoned Animals Through Ordinance Revision

The "capture team," which Gimpo City in Gyeonggi Province has expanded to address citizen inconvenience and safety concerns caused by stray and abandoned animals, is producing tangible results.

Stray Animal Capture Team. Provided by Gimpo City

According to Gimpo City on July 24, the team captured 365 stray and abandoned animals in the first half of this year alone, marking an increase of about 46% compared to the same period last year. This achievement appears to be due to citizens' active reporting, the team's swift response, and the extension of the intensive operation period from May to August.

Recently, as the number of registered companion animals has increased, the number of stray and abandoned animals has also continued to rise, leading to more cases where some abandoned dogs become feral and pose a threat to citizen safety. In particular, packs of feral dogs have been spotted in sparsely populated areas such as Jangneungsan, Heosan, and the Ecological Park, appearing in residential neighborhoods. The increase in vacant houses due to large-scale development projects, including industrial complexes and apartment construction, is also contributing to the rise in feral dog populations.

The phenomenon of companion dogs becoming feral after being abandoned by their owners is also a growing concern. Feral dogs have been reported to attack other animals such as cats or damage garbage bags, raising fears of ecological disruption.

In response, Gimpo City is expanding its specialized capture team for stray and abandoned animals as a measure to control the population of abandoned dogs and ensure citizen safety. The team utilizes various methods, including setting traps and baiting, and in high-risk cases, it cooperates promptly with relevant agencies such as the Gimpo Fire Department and the police station.

As a result, Gimpo City's annual capture figures for stray and abandoned animals have shown a significant increase over the past three years: 103 animals in 2022, 356 in 2023, and 501 in 2024.

Additionally, Gimpo City is pursuing institutional improvements, such as revising the "Ordinance on Animal Protection and Welfare Support in Gimpo City" to require large-scale development project operators to establish measures for the protection and relocation of stray animals within their project areas.

The stray and abandoned animal capture team is not only working to prevent harm to citizens but is also engaged in rescuing abused animals. The team rescues lost companion animals, neglected or abused animals, and even endangered species (CITES).

A Gimpo City official stated, "Through the continued efforts of the capture team, we are safeguarding both citizen safety and the value of protecting life," adding, "We will continue to expand administrative support with the goal of creating a city without abandoned animals."

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