Animal Empathy Alliance: "Changwon Stray Animal Integrated Shelter, Excessive Euthanasia Due to Space Shortage"

Animal Welfare Considered in Lawful Procedures,
Changwon City Also Promotes Adoption Expansion

The Animal Empathy Solidarity criticized the decision to humanely euthanize some animals at the Integrated Shelter for Abandoned Animals in Changwon, Gyeongnam, calling it an inhumane decision.

On the 14th, the Solidarity held a press conference at the Changwon City Hall Press Center, stating, “The current integrated shelter, which combined the previously separate shelters in Changwon, Masan, and Jinhae, has spatial limitations that prevent it from safely accommodating all abandoned dogs.”

The Animal Empathy Coalition is holding a press conference at the Changwon Special City Hall Press Center condemning the euthanasia implementation at the Changwon City Integrated Stray Animal Protection Center. Photo by Lee Seryeong

“Volunteers raised concerns about excessive euthanasia due to lack of space related to the shelter integration from early last year until October, but the Changwon city officials repeatedly denied any artificial euthanasia caused by space shortages,” they said.

“However, the integrated shelter indiscriminately euthanized 89 animals in December last year,” they added, “We strongly condemn this inhumane administrative action and disregard for life.”

The Solidarity argued that “the forced integration of shelters, ignoring the capacity and protection issues consistently raised by civil society, seriously threatens animal welfare and the right to life.”

They urged the city to secure sufficient space to accommodate all 700 abandoned dogs previously housed in the three shelters and to establish safe protection facilities.

Choi Myung-han, Director of Changwon Agricultural Technology Center, is stating the position on the euthanasia implementation at Changwon City Integrated Shelter for Abandoned Animals at the Changwon Special City Hall Press Center. Photo by Lee Se-ryeong

Earlier, Changwon City opened the Changwon Integrated Animal Shelter in October last year, merging the animal shelters previously divided among Changwon, Masan, and Jinhae.

The integrated shelter, built with a total project cost of 4 billion KRW, covers an area of 1,442㎡ and includes protection rooms, isolation rooms, adoption consultation rooms, and medical examination rooms.

Currently, abandoned animals from the Masan and Changwon shelters have been admitted, and those from the Jinhae shelter are expected to be admitted soon.

The city initially expected to accommodate all abandoned animals from the three locations in one place but decided to reduce the number of animals from an animal welfare perspective, such as creating an appropriate breeding environment after the center’s establishment.

They explained that humane treatment (euthanasia) is unavoidable for animals with incurable diseases or injuries, those requiring continuous treatment, animals with aggression or behavioral disorders that are difficult to correct, and others for whom long-term care is difficult considering the center’s capacity and adoption possibilities.

A city official stated, “Humane treatment is a lawful act defined by law and is implemented according to Article 46 of the Animal Protection Act and the Animal Shelter Operation Guidelines,” adding, “Other local governments also perform humane treatment without separate public notice after 1 to 2 months of protection period.”

They added, “Changwon’s average protection period is 612 days, much higher than the national average of 27.8 days, and the humane treatment rate is 10.1%, lower than the national average of 18.0%,” and said, “Currently, there are no plans to expand the integrated shelter, but we plan to actively reduce the number of admitted animals and promote adoptions to minimize euthanasia.”

The city plans to extend adoption hours to two hours daily without holidays throughout the year and to activate online adoption applications through a partnership with the mobile abandoned dog adoption platform, Poinhand.

A city official said, “Changwon City will comply with legal procedures and actively promote reducing the number of admitted animals and adoption activation projects to ensure that protected animals are cared for safely and in better environments, dedicating itself to animal welfare.”