Gwangju City Operates Temporary Animal Protection Centers in Buk-gu and Gwangsan-gu

Temporary Protection for 10 Days During Announcement Period... Disease Diagnosis and Emergency Treatment Included

Gwangju Metropolitan City (Mayor Kang Ki-jung) announced on the 29th that it will operate temporary animal protection centers in Buk-gu and Gwangsan-gu.

This initiative was promoted to enhance the level of care for lost and abandoned animals and to help find their owners quickly.

The number of households raising companion animals in the Gwangju area is 130,000, with a companion population of 290,000. Every year, about 3,000 lost and abandoned animals are consistently reported, and with the introduction of the animal surrender system and the increase in abused animals, the number of animals admitted to shelters continues to rise.

Last year, the average monthly number of animals protected at Gwangju’s animal shelter was 528, exceeding the appropriate capacity of 350, resulting in a shortage of protection space and a need to improve the rescue and protection system.

Accordingly, Gwangju City will designate and operate temporary animal protection centers in autonomous districts for the first time this year, with a total project cost of 40 million KRW (50% city funds, 50% district funds).

The autonomous district temporary animal protection centers will be selected and designated by the districts from animal hospitals and organizations located in Gwangju that meet the facility and personnel standards set by the Animal Protection Act, temporarily protecting abandoned animals for the 10-day public notice period.

Additionally, during the protection period, the centers will conduct infectious disease diagnoses and emergency treatments, and animals whose public notice period has expired will be admitted to the Gwangju City animal shelter for continued care.

This year, the pilot project will be implemented in two autonomous districts with a high incidence of lost and abandoned animals, Buk-gu and Gwangsan-gu, and plans to expand to five autonomous districts by 2025.

Nam Taek-song, Director of the Agricultural Animal Policy Division, said, “We will operate the autonomous district protection centers without fail so that citizens can quickly find their lost companion animals through temporary animal protection centers that are easily accessible, and improve the level of care by distributing the care of lost and abandoned animals.”