Yangcheon-gu Supports Pet Medical Expenses for Seniors and Vulnerable Groups... Up to 400,000 KRW

'Our Neighborhood Animal Hospital' Project
Now Available in Yangcheon-gu
Providing Essential Medical Support for Pets of Vulnerable Groups

Yangcheon-gu, Seoul (District Mayor Lee Gi-jae) has started operating the 'Our Neighborhood Animal Hospital' project this month, which provides essential medical expenses for pets to vulnerable groups.

Through the 'Yangcheon-type Our Neighborhood Animal Hospital' project, the district supports basic health checkups and medical expenses for pets owned by seniors aged 65 and over who receive basic pensions. The 'Yangcheon-type Our Neighborhood Animal Hospital' was first implemented by the district among Seoul's autonomous districts in 2023, introduced to reduce the economic burden on seniors aged 65 and over, most of whom are retirees.

At the Yangcheon-gu Pet Culture Festival held last year, pet families and Lee Gi-jae, the district mayor. Provided by Yangcheon-gu.

The support targets dogs and cats owned by seniors aged 65 and over receiving basic pensions residing in Yangcheon-gu. To receive support, the animal must be registered, and the registered owner and the applicant for medical expenses must be the same person. This year, the district plans to increase the support scale from 'one pet per household' to 'one pet per person' and support a total of 120 pets.

The support items are divided into essential treatment and optional treatment. 'Essential treatment' covers basic checkups, vaccinations, heartworm prevention medication, and other medical expenses up to 200,000 KRW, while 'optional treatment' supports treatment for diseases discovered during essential treatment or neutering surgery within 200,000 KRW. However, simple prescriptions such as grooming and nutritional injections are excluded. To receive support, applicants must bring a basic pension recipient certificate and ID card and visit a 'Yangcheon-type Our Neighborhood Animal Hospital' contracted with the district.

The designated animal hospitals include 10 locations: in Mok-dong, 'Hani Animal Hospital' and 'Pet Sarang Animal Hospital'; in Sinwol-dong, 'Min Byung-chul Animal Hospital,' 'Wooshin Animal Hospital,' 'Yangcheon General Animal Hospital,' 'Haetsal Animal Hospital,' and 'Jeongmallo Animal Hospital'; and in Sinjeong-dong, 'Parkside Animal Hospital,' 'Leaders Animal Hospital,' and 'Sinjeong Animal Hospital.'

Meanwhile, vulnerable groups such as basic livelihood security recipients, lower-income households, and single-parent families are supported through the 'Seoul-type Our Neighborhood Animal Hospital' project. The support content and designated animal hospitals are the same as the 'Yangcheon-type,' and support is available for up to two pets per household. Overlapping support between the 'Seoul-type' and 'Yangcheon-type' is not allowed.

District Mayor Lee Gi-jae said, "I hope the Our Neighborhood Animal Hospital project will help reduce the economic burden on vulnerable groups and seniors who raise pets and contribute to a healthy and happy companionship with their pets."