No Worries When Pets Are Sick... Mapo-gu Provides Up to 400,000 KRW for Treatment Costs and More

Support for Medical Checkups, Treatment, and Neutering Surgery Costs for Vulnerable Pet Owners
Animal Registration Support for Adopting Stray Animals... Also Establishing a Pet Camping Site

Mapo-gu (Mayor Park Gang-su) will implement the ‘Our Neighborhood Animal Hospital’ project in March to reduce the burden of veterinary expenses for vulnerable groups.

Pets are known to help alleviate depression and loneliness, and as of the end of last year, 14.1% of vulnerable groups in Mapo-gu, including basic livelihood security recipients, were found to be raising pets.

However, due to the burden of veterinary expenses, cases of neglect or abandonment of sick pets have occurred, causing greater social costs.

Accordingly, from March, Mapo-gu will support eligible recipients to receive pet medical treatment worth up to 400,000 KRW by paying a maximum of 10,000 KRW as the owner’s co-payment at designated animal hospitals through the ‘Our Neighborhood Animal Hospital’ project.

This year, two animal hospitals have been designated in Mapo-gu: Hongik Animal Hospital (located in Hapjeong-dong) and Seogyo Animal Hospital (located in Seogyo-dong).

Eligible recipients are basic livelihood security recipients, near-poverty groups, and single-parent families raising dogs or cats in Mapo-gu, with support provided once a year for up to two pets per household.

Support includes essential treatments worth 200,000 KRW (basic health checkup, essential vaccinations, heartworm prevention medication) and optional treatments within 200,000 KRW (treatment of diseases found during basic checkups and neutering surgery). However, the owner must pay a co-payment of 10,000 KRW and any excess costs, and pets must be registered.

Residents wishing to apply should prepare identification and supporting documents, inquire at the designated animal hospitals, and visit in person.

Meanwhile, from March, Mapo-gu will support free animal registration for adopters of abandoned animals to promote a pet adoption culture, and in June, plans to create a ‘Pet Camping Site’ on a 2,863㎡ site at Nanji Hangang Park in Sangam-dong.

Park Gang-su, Mayor of Mapo-gu, said, “We hope that vulnerable residents raising pets will show great interest and apply so that no one has to give up health checkups or treatment for their pets due to financial difficulties. Mapo-gu will enhance the quality of life for pet families through advanced animal-friendly policies while establishing a proper pet culture foundation.”