Gwangju City Accelerates Expansion of Companion Animal Welfare Infrastructure

Gwangju City Hall

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Seon-gang] Gwangju Metropolitan City is accelerating the expansion of animal welfare infrastructure in response to the recent era of 12 million pet owners (estimated 350,000 in Gwangju).

On the 24th, according to Gwangju City, to systematically manage the increasing number of abandoned animals, the city is investing 3.9 billion KRW to build a 1,780㎡ (capacity for 600 animals) 'Metropolitan Abandoned Animal Protection Center.'

Additionally, to fundamentally solve the abandoned animal problem, which occurs more than 8 times daily on average, the city will operate a 'Abandoned Animal Adoption Center' and a 'Pet Culture Classroom' in Nam-gu starting next year.

The 'Abandoned Animal Adoption Center' will operate by introducing abandoned animals protected and managed at shelters, providing opportunities for natural encounters and finding new families.

The 'Pet Culture Classroom' will prevent legal violations and the occurrence of abandoned animals through education programs on pet health, behavior correction, and pet etiquette (a combination of pet and etiquette).

Moreover, next year, Gwangsan-gu will establish the region's first 4,000㎡ 'Pet-Only Playground.'

The creation of the pet-only playground is expected to resolve related conflicts and provide a play space where pets can run and play freely.

In this regard, these projects reflect the results of discussions by the 'Animal Welfare Governance,' composed of animal welfare experts and representatives of related private organizations, making it an excellent example of public-private cooperation in animal welfare in Gwangju City.

Park Nam-eon, Director of the City’s Job and Economy Office, said, “Pet welfare is related to the quality of life of citizens,” and added, “We will continuously expand pet facilities and service infrastructure so that Gwangju citizens and their pets can live in a better city.”