Gwanak-gu Takes Action to Capture Stray Dogs Threatening Residents' Safety

Operation of Stray Dog (Wild Dog) Safe Capture Team... Veterinarian-Accompanied Professional Capture Requests for Safety-Vulnerable Areas Such as Kindergartens, Schools, and Walking Trails... Hiring Experts with Experience in Animal Protection to Enhance Expertise in Animal Rescue and Protection Tasks

Installation of Wild Dog Traps

Gwanak-gu (District Mayor Park Jun-hee) is actively responding to the capture of feral stray dogs (wild dogs) in the area to resolve the safety threats to residents caused by the steadily occurring feral stray dogs every year.

Feral stray dogs (wild dogs) are dogs born and adapted to the wild that do not come into contact with humans, and are currently protected under the Animal Protection Act as abandoned animals.

When a report of a feral stray dog (wild dog) sighting is received, the district posts warning banners about wild dog appearances. The stray dog safety capture team investigates the sighting location to confirm the number of animals and their habitats, then installs capture traps.

Currently, 34 capture traps are in operation, and additional traps will be produced and installed in areas that threaten residents' safety. When an animal is captured in a trap, it is safely transferred to the Gwanak-gu entrusted animal protection center for care.

Additionally, for wild dogs appearing in vulnerable safety areas such as kindergartens, schools (including Seoul National University), and walking trails, which seriously threaten residents' safety, professional capture is requested from capture companies including veterinarians to prevent safety accidents. Captured stray dogs are captured using safe methods according to the Seoul Metropolitan Government's stray dog rescue anesthesia equipment usage manual.

The district plans to enhance expertise in animal rescue and protection by hiring experienced professionals in the field of animal protection, continuing from last year.

Along with this, the district is promoting various pet awareness improvement projects such as active promotion and operation of the animal registration system, pet behavior correction projects, and mobile animal hospitals to minimize the occurrence of stray dogs.

A district official stated, “Taking the recent wild dog appearance incident on the Seoul National University campus as an opportunity, we will continue practical consultations related to wild dog capture in cooperation with Gwanak-gu Office, Seoul National University, and Gwanak Fire Station to prevent safety accidents caused by wild dogs. We will attach warning and safety banners in areas where wild dogs appear and strive to respond quickly and promptly when wild dog sightings are reported to prevent safety accidents among residents.”