Some Local Governments' Animal Protection Centers Poorly Managed... Government and Local Authorities to Conduct Joint Inspections

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyunjung] On the 23rd, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs announced that it will conduct a comprehensive inspection of the operation status of animal protection centers to strengthen the management of animal protection centers, following concerns raised about mismanagement at some local government animal protection centers.

Each local government is required by the Animal Protection Act to establish and designate animal protection centers for the rescue and protection of lost and abandoned animals, and currently operates about 280 animal protection centers nationwide.

This comprehensive inspection will be a joint inspection by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and local governments (provinces, cities, counties, and districts), targeting animal protection centers nationwide to check compliance with facility standards and requirements stipulated by the Animal Protection Act.

Regarding facilities, the inspection will check whether separate rooms such as treatment rooms, breeding rooms, and isolation rooms are installed, whether water supply and drainage facilities for hygiene management are in place, and whether the size and safety of animal housing facilities are appropriate. It will also verify compliance with separation and protection according to animal species, size, and disease status, provision of adequate feed, regular disinfection and cleaning, and preparation and management of individual animal management cards.

This comprehensive inspection will first be conducted over two weeks from February 7 to February 18 on 55 local government-operated animal protection centers, and will be expanded to include privately commissioned animal protection centers in March and April.

If animal abuse is discovered as a result of the inspection, measures such as filing charges and canceling the designation of animal protection centers will be taken. For operational deficiencies, correction orders will be issued, submission of implementation plans will be required, and implementation results will be checked semiannually to ensure prompt improvement.

Kim Jihyun, Director of the Animal Welfare Policy Division at the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, stated, “Through this inspection, we will closely examine the operation status of local government animal protection centers and promote improvements aimed at dramatically enhancing animal welfare.”