Adoption of Stray Dogs and Cats Under 46 Acquaintances' Names
Colluding with Veterinarians to Fraudulently Collect Medical Fees
An animal protection activist is under police investigation on suspicion of fraudulently receiving tens of millions of won in government subsidies by adopting a large number of abandoned animals under the names of acquaintances.
According to the police and animal protection organizations on the 1st, the Cheongwon Police Station in Cheongju, Chungbuk Province, announced that they are conducting a pre-indictment investigation on Mr. A, a man in his 60s, on charges of fraud. A pre-indictment investigation refers to an internal investigation stage where information about the case is collected before formally indicting a suspect or starting an official investigation.
Mr. A is suspected of adopting 175 abandoned dogs and cats under the names of 46 acquaintances, including his nephew, from 2020 until early this year, and embezzling about 40 million won in government medical subsidies.
Large dogs are waiting for new families at the stray animal adoption center. The photo is not related to the specific content of the article. Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@
The government currently limits the number of abandoned animals that can be adopted per person to three. Additionally, the government, together with local governments, provides subsidies of up to 150,000 won per neutering surgery and vaccination for each adopted abandoned animal. Until 2021, the adoption limit per person was 10 animals but was reduced to three. Also, the subsidy amount was raised from 200,000 won in 2020 to 250,000 won in 2021, then cut back to 150,000 won this year.
To circumvent the adoption limit per person, Mr. A reportedly proceeded with adoption procedures using the names of acquaintances and then collected the subsidies paid to them. Over several years, he participated in a stray cat neutering project and became acquainted with animal lovers such as so-called "cat moms." Mr. A is said to have persuaded them by promising to take good care of the abandoned animals if they lent their names, ensuring the animals would not be euthanized.
To receive government subsidies, medical receipts are required. The police have identified that veterinarian Mr. B (in his 50s), who was on friendly terms with Mr. A, issued false receipts. The police also obtained intelligence that Mr. A, a basic livelihood security recipient, asked acquaintances to send the subsidies to his nephews' bank accounts to avoid losing his qualification, and they plan to seize these accounts.
Among the 175 animals adopted under acquaintances' names by Mr. A, about 30% are abandoned dogs, and the rest are abandoned cats. Most of the abandoned dogs were confirmed to have been re-adopted by overseas adoption organizations, and the police are tracking the whereabouts of the adopted abandoned animals.
An official from an animal protection organization told Yonhap News Agency, "Unlike dogs, adult cats (seongmyo, fully grown cats) are classified as wild animals and are not rescued unless injured, so most of the abandoned cats Mr. A adopted from shelters are likely kittens," adding, "Their survival rate is generally around 50%, so if they were not properly cared for, the damage is expected to be significant."
The police, currently summoning and investigating those who lent their names to Mr. A, plan to summon veterinarian Mr. B soon for questioning and then formally indict Mr. A.
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