Lunar New Year Pet Care Shelter Open January 28-30 at District Office 2nd Floor Auditorium
For Small Dogs Under 8kg with Animal Registration and Rabies Vaccination Completed, Boarding Fee 5,000 KRW
Registration Open January 13-17 Until 6 PM, One Dog per Household, First 30 Dogs Accepted
Nowon-gu, Seoul (District Mayor Oh Seung-rok) announced that it will operate the "Pet Dog Care Shelter" again this year to safely care for pet dogs during the Lunar New Year holiday.
The holiday pet dog care shelter was established to prevent the surge in abandoned dogs during the holiday period and to realize Nowon as a healthy welfare city where humans and animals coexist. This service, which started in 2018 during Chuseok, is now in its 8th year of operation and has received great responses from dog owners with high satisfaction every year.
In a satisfaction survey conducted among dog owners who used the shelter during last Chuseok holiday, all respondents answered that they would use the service again, proving its necessity and effectiveness.
The shelter is available for pet dogs raised by Nowon-gu residents who meet the following criteria: ▲over 6 months old ▲registered animals with completed rabies vaccination ▲small dogs weighing 8kg or less with no socialization issues. However, dogs with contagious diseases, pregnant dogs, or dogs in heat are not eligible to apply. For dogs sensitive to the environment, preparing the food, toys, or bedding they usually use at home can help them adapt.
Dogs staying at the shelter can rest comfortably in cozy hotel-like rooms with cushions and mats, and enjoy playtime using various exercise equipment and toys in playgrounds separated by gender and size.
The district prioritizes the safety of the dogs by assigning professional pet sitters in teams of three working in two shifts from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., and night duty staff carefully monitor the dogs’ condition overnight. In case of illness or injury, the shelter will immediately coordinate with a local animal hospital that operates 24 hours for urgent care.
Additionally, customized care services are enhanced to help dogs adapt well to the unfamiliar environment. Basic information for each dog, including the owner’s requests, is distributed to pet sitters in advance to improve the quality of care. During the care period, photos of the dogs will be provided twice a day (after morning feeding and before bedtime) to owners who want to check on their pets.
Applications will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis through the Nowon-gu Office website from 9 a.m. on January 13 to 6 p.m. on January 17. The care fee is 5,000 KRW. Vulnerable groups such as elderly living alone, disabled persons, and recipients of basic livelihood security can also apply by phone.
The district is promoting various policies to foster a mature pet culture where humans and animals coexist. It operates the "Nowon Pet Culture Center Daengdaeng House," providing services such as protection of abandoned animals, adoption support, and pet culture education. It has also created "Pet Family Rest Areas" throughout parks to provide safe spaces for pets to run and play.
Moreover, the annual pet festival "Nowon Banham" is held to provide practical information to owners and to promote a proper pet culture.
Mayor Oh Seung-rok said, “The Lunar New Year pet dog care shelter is operated every year to reduce residents’ holiday worries and to protect the safety and happiness of pets,” adding, “I hope both pets and their owners have a warm and happy holiday.”
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