How to Accurately Understand Pets and Build Healthy Relationships?

Seoul Gangseo-gu, Online Animal Protection Education to Improve Awareness of Companion Animals

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Gangseo-gu, Seoul (Mayor Noh Hyun-song) is operating an animal protection education program called "Becoming Friends with Gangdaengi & Seonyangi" to help understand companion animals.

Recently, issues related to companion animals have been increasing, such as fatal accidents caused by bites or abandonment due to inability to care for them until the end. This program was prepared to promote correct understanding and awareness of companion animals.

The "Becoming Friends with Gangdaengi & Seonyangi School" is conducted through general education and advanced education.

General education is open to all Gangseo-gu residents, and applications are accepted from September 1 to 11.

Residents who wish to participate can apply by visiting the Gangseo Animal Protection Education website or by searching "Uri Dongnae Pet Leader" on portal sites and accessing the application page.

The education is conducted online (4 hours) and covers understanding of companion dogs and cats, as well as pet etiquette, which are manners to be observed when with companion animals in public places.

Advanced education selects 20 participants (aged 19 and over) from those who have completed the general education. It will be conducted from October through online video meetings and in-person sessions (total 9 hours). Depending on the COVID-19 situation, in-person sessions may be changed to online education.

In the advanced education, "Uri Dongnae Pet Leaders (companion animal awareness activists)" are trained, and participants also create teaching materials and video content for animal protection education.

Those who complete the advanced education will receive a "Uri Dongnae Pet Leader" certificate.

The teaching materials and video content created through the advanced education will be distributed to local elementary schools, community centers, libraries, and welfare centers, encouraging these institutions to conduct their own education programs.

This project was selected as a cooperative governance project in 2020 through a community innovation task involving local residents and village activists. It was implemented to solve community issues that residents consider important.

Mayor Noh Hyun-song said, "As conflicts among neighbors due to companion animals are occurring these days, it is necessary to have accurate understanding and proper relationship building with companion animals, which is why this education is being conducted. In the era of 10 million companion animal owners, we aim to create a Gangseo where people and animals live harmoniously."

For more information, please contact the Gangseo-gu Office Regional Economy Division.