Use Pet Care Shelters When Visiting Hometown During Seol Holiday

Nowon-gu Pet Dog Shelter

"I was planning to visit my hometown for the Lunar New Year holiday, but it was difficult to bring my dog along. I'm so glad the district office operates a pet care shelter."

Mr. Kim (45), who lives in Nowon-gu, Seoul, said he would use the 'Holiday Pet Care Shelter' provided by the Nowon District Office during this Lunar New Year holiday to visit his hometown.

Nowon-gu (District Mayor Oh Seung-rok) announced that it will operate the 'Holiday Pet Care Shelter' from February 9 to February 11 during the Lunar New Year holiday period.

The Holiday Pet Care Shelter is a representative animal welfare service provided by the district to reduce the burden on pet owners planning to travel home. It has been in operation for seven years since it was first implemented during Chuseok in 2018 to prevent the increase of abandoned dogs during holiday seasons.

This Lunar New Year’s pet care shelter is being offered again following a satisfaction survey conducted among users who utilized the facility during last Chuseok, where all respondents expressed their intention to use it again. It will be set up in the large auditorium on the second floor of the district office, as before.

The shelter is available for small dogs under 8kg raised by district residents who meet the following criteria: over 6 months old, registered animals with completed rabies vaccinations, and no social behavior issues. Dogs with contagious diseases, pregnant dogs, or those in heat are not eligible. For dogs sensitive to their environment, it is recommended to bring familiar food, toys, or bedding from home.

During their stay, dogs will rest comfortably in the 'hotel room' furnished with cushions and mats, and enjoy playtime in the playground equipped with various exercise equipment and toys, separated by size.

To ensure the safety of the dogs, professional pet sitters work in teams of three in two shifts from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., with night duty staff monitoring the dogs carefully. In case of illness or injury, dogs are promptly taken to a 24-hour animal hospital in the area to prevent serious accidents.

The district plans to enhance customized care considering breed characteristics. Basic information about each dog, including owner requests, will be provided to pet sitters in advance to improve service quality. During the care period, owners will receive photos of their dogs twice daily (after morning feeding and before bedtime).

Applications can be made on the Nowon District Office website from 9 a.m. on January 22 to 6 p.m. on January 31, with a care fee of 5,000 KRW. Vulnerable groups such as elderly living alone, disabled persons, and recipients of basic livelihood security can apply by phone.

A health and hygiene department official said, "Last Chuseok, 27 pets were cared for at the shelter."

Oh Seung-rok, Mayor of Nowon-gu, said, "We are preparing various projects to prevent the unfortunate increase of abandoned animals after holidays. We will continue to lead a mature pet culture and create a happy cultural city where both pet families and their pets can thrive."

Seocho-gu Pet Dog Care Shelter

Seocho-gu, Seoul (District Mayor Jeon Seong-su) announced that it will operate a 'Pet Care Shelter' during this Lunar New Year holiday to ease the burden on pet owners who will be away from home.

The shelter will be open for six days from February 8 to 13 and is available at the 'Pet Care Shelter' inside the Seocho Animal Love Center.

Experienced professional caregivers (pet sitters) reside at the center to ensure residents can entrust their dogs with peace of mind. They conduct regular patrols and monitor via CCTV, thoroughly managing feeding and waste. In emergencies such as illness or injury, dogs are transported to a 24-hour animal hospital.

Applicants can register in person at the Seocho Animal Love Center from January 22 to 31. Eligible dogs are registered small to medium-sized dogs over five months old in the district. For more details, contact the Seocho Animal Love Center (Yangjaecheon-ro 19-gil 22). The fee is 5,000 KRW, covering minimal costs such as cleaning and disinfection.

Priority for applications is given in the following order: 1st priority - Seocho residents who have adopted abandoned dogs; 2nd priority - low-income households; 3rd priority - families who adopted from the Seocho Animal Love Center and Seocho residents.

The Seocho Animal Love Center has been providing pet care services during Lunar New Year, Chuseok, and summer vacation periods since 2019, with the number of users increasing annually.

Additionally, the district promotes various animal welfare programs such as dog walking education, dog sports, and pet logging (walking with pets while cleaning the environment) to improve the health of pets and their owners.

Moreover, the district operates the 'Seoripul Rainbow Group' to help overcome pet loss grief and offers a 30% discount on funeral costs for humane pet funerals upon the death of a pet. It also provides adoption subsidies up to 500,000 KRW, the highest among local governments nationwide, for residents adopting abandoned animals.

Jeon Seong-su, Mayor of Seocho-gu, said, "We hope pet families will entrust their dogs to the care shelter and enjoy the holiday with peace of mind. We will continue to expand policies to promote the health of both pet owners and their pets and strive to make Seocho a happy place for people and animals alike."