Establishment of Pet Policy Team, Leading Animal Welfare Activation with Basic Animal Welfare Plan... Promoting Pet Dog Culture Classes, Pet Festival, and Visiting Animal Etiquette Projects
[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] The era of 10 million companion animals. For modern people, companion animals are no less than a part of the family.
Seongdong-gu is taking the lead to establish a healthy settlement of this rapidly changing companion animal culture.
Seongdong-gu (Mayor Jeong Won-oh) established the 'Companion Animal Policy Team' in January this year. Throughout the year, it plans to promote animal welfare, activate animal welfare, and lead the creation of a symbiotic culture between humans and animals.
The district will promote 15 projects in four major areas: △leading companion animal care culture △respecting animal life and fostering residents' emotions △creating an animal welfare city where people and animals enjoy together △building a network for companion animal policy promotion and resident participation.
First, in January, the district revamped its website and separately opened a 'Companion Animal Menu' so that residents can more easily access questions about animals. It allows residents to see related integrated information at a glance and serves as a communication channel with residents.
The 'Companion Dog Culture Class,' which provides customized education and individual counseling by animal behavior experts for companion dogs that require behavioral correction, and the 'Education for Companion Dog Socialization,' an education for owners to establish a proper companion culture, are held three times a year. These programs, piloted last year, have gained popularity due to high resident participation and will be expanded this year.
The 'Visiting Animal Etiquette Project' promotes and guides the rules that must be observed when raising companion dogs. Six honorary animal protection monitors with experience in related fields such as veterinarians and animal protection majors are appointed to inform pet etiquette that companion animals must observe in public places including parks, conduct campaigns to prevent animal abuse, and provide consultations on animal protection and welfare.
In the second half of the year, the 'Companion Animal Hanmadang' will be held, where companion animals and residents can interact and enjoy together. To commemorate 'World Animal Day' on October 4, various booths and side events such as experience and participation areas with companion dogs, health consultations for companion dogs, and training demonstrations will be prepared under the theme 'Making Happy Memories with Companion Animals.'
Jeong Won-oh, mayor of Seongdong-gu, said, "Social conflicts arising from immature companion culture are emerging," and added, "We will take the lead in resolving conflicts and forming consensus between companion animal owners and non-owners through various companion animal-related policies and strive to create a proper companion animal culture."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
