Nam-gu, Gwangju Metropolitan City announced on the 16th that "as the life of living with companion animals spreads, it will be the first local government in the Gwangju area to promote various animal welfare projects, including funeral service fee discounts for companion animals."
Nam-gu recently signed a win-win development agreement with Pureunsol, a companion animal funeral home in Jeonnam, to resolve complaints about animal cremation from local pet owners and to foster a mature companion culture.
The main point of this agreement is that when companion animals raised by residents in the district pass away and use this cremation facility, 20% of the cremation fee will be discounted, and the animals will be placed free of charge in the columbarium for one year.
Additionally, if vulnerable residents in the district cremate animals such as dogs and cats, an additional 10% discount will be applied, and if they use the transportation service of this facility, 50% of the transportation cost will be discounted.
The reason for signing this agreement is that although the companion animal population is increasing, there is currently not a single facility in the Gwangju area where funerals can be held when companion animals die, and burying deceased companion animals directly in the ground is a violation of the law.
It is also to provide comfort to pet owners who suffer great physical and mental difficulties as if they lost a family member by placing their departed companion animals in a designated place.
Nam-gu expects that the culture of holding funerals for companion animals such as dogs and cats will take root among pet owners through the companion animal funeral support service.
Along with this, to reduce the economic burden on pet owners and to ensure the health of companion animals and the safety of residents, part of the rabies vaccination procedure fee will also be supported.
The support target is pet owners who raise dogs and cats registered in the district according to the Animal Protection Act.
To this end, Nam-gu has designated 17 animal hospitals in the district as designated rabies vaccination hospitals and plans to support rabies vaccinations for 1,000 dogs and cats this year.
If vaccinated at a designated animal hospital, 50% of the vaccination fee can be supported.
For inquiries about animal welfare projects such as companion animal funeral homes, you can contact the Economic Policy Division of Nam-gu Office for detailed information.
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