Goyang City Introduces 'Animal-Assisted Therapy' in Nation's First Youth Guidance Program

Agreement Signed Between Goyang Police Station and Youth on Operation of Animal Communication Healing Program

Goyang Special City, Gyeonggi Province (Mayor Lee Dong-hwan) announced on the 20th that it will introduce animal-assisted therapy into its youth guidance program for the first time in the nation through a business agreement with the Goyang Police Station.

Lee Dong-hwan, Mayor of Goyang Special City (right), is taking a commemorative photo after signing a business agreement with Lee Yang-ho, Chief of Goyang Police Station. Provided by Goyang Special City

To prevent juvenile crime and promote animal-assisted therapy, the agreement signed on the 20th will enable the Goyang Special City Animal-Assisted Therapy Center to operate an animal-assisted therapy program for youth once a week starting from the signing date.

Under this agreement, Goyang Special City will support the use of the Goyang Special City Animal-Assisted Therapy Center and the Pet Park, while the Goyang Police Station will operate the animal-assisted therapy program.

Mayor Lee Dong-hwan of Goyang Special City stated, “Through today’s agreement, I hope that young people will experience animal-assisted therapy and live brightly and healthily as members of society. We will also analyze the effects of animal-assisted therapy for guidance purposes and develop it into a Goyang-style animal-assisted therapy model.”