Perfect Score in Provincial Survey for Animal Protection Center Operations
Adoption Rate Reaches 82%... Local Governments Seek to Benchmark
The 'Yongin City Animal Protection Center,' operated by Yongin City in Samga-dong, Cheoin-gu, Gyeonggi Province, is a place frequently visited by key local government officials. As the center's high adoption rate of abandoned animals and systematic operation system have become well known, more local governments are seeking to benchmark it.
Yongin City operates the 'Yongin City Animal Protection Center' in Samga-dong, Cheoin-gu. With a high adoption rate and exemplary management system, it has become a benchmarking model for other local governments. Photo by Yongin City
The level of pet welfare in Yongin City was objectively confirmed in a recent evaluation by Gyeonggi Province. On the 11th, at the Gyeonggi Economic Science Promotion Agency in Iui-dong, Suwon, the Yongin City Animal Protection Center received the highest score among animal protection centers operated by 31 cities and counties in the province at the '2024 Pet Welfare Level Survey Research Service Final Report Meeting' hosted by Gyeonggi Province.
This survey was conducted from June last year to April this year by Gyeonggi Province and the Animal Happiness Research Institute of Konkuk University's Industry Cooperation Group. They visited animal protection centers in 31 cities and counties across the province and evaluated welfare levels based on environment-based and animal-based indicators.
The city received high scores in the environment-based category. It recorded 2.96 points in satisfaction with animal welfare policies, higher than the provincial average of 2.56 points, and received the second-highest score in the categories of pet-related ordinances, policies, and cultural activities.
The center received a perfect score in animal protection center operations. Additionally, it scored 91.6 points in animal management and 87.5 points in personnel, achieving high scores across all evaluation indicators.
Notably, the adoption rate of abandoned animals, including returns to owners and donations, reached 82% as of last year. This figure is more than twice the national average of 39%. The euthanasia rate for protected dogs, excluding cats, was the lowest at 2%.
The city has established regulations for operating the animal protection center and runs a visiting adoption system. It systematically promotes various programs such as operating adoption shelters to improve abandoned animal welfare and encourage adoption, collaborating with animal protection organizations, cohabitation training for protected animals, support from grooming experts, and structured adoption counseling.
To enable citizens to adopt healthy abandoned animals as pets, the city also operates an animal hospital. The hospital provides neutering surgery, heartworm treatment, and comprehensive vaccinations for adopted and donated protected animals. It also offers various supports such as animal registration, adoption fees up to 150,000 KRW, and free insurance enrollment for adopted animals.
To promote the adoption of abandoned animals, the city distributes promotional items featuring the 'Joayang' character and carries out various promotional activities, including managing Instagram.
Mayor Lee Sang-il of Yongin City said, "The improvement of pet welfare is the result of the city's continuous efforts together with its citizens," adding, "We will continue to strive to enhance welfare, including appointing a pet adoption promotion ambassador within this month."
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