Goyang Accelerates as an Animal-Friendly City
Full Efforts to Expand Infrastructure Such as Parks
Spreading Companion Animal Culture Centered on 'Banryeon Ontteul' in Goyang
Goyang Special City in Gyeonggi Province is emerging as an animal-friendly city where companion animals and people coexist harmoniously. Centered around the Banryeon Ontteul Adoption Center, Goyang Special City is systematically operating programs to promote companion animal culture, build infrastructure, and provide animal empathy healing programs, achieving visible results such as a rise in adoption rates.
According to Goyang Special City on May 28, the city selected 'Banryeon Ontteul' as the new name for its companion animal adoption center and animal protection facility in March and began operations under this name. Meaning 'a warm home,' Banryeon Ontteul is a 1,098-square-meter complex facility equipped with improved living environments for protected animals and a professional health and behavior management system.
Through facility remodeling, new medical spaces such as large and small dog kennels, isolation rooms, and operating rooms have been established. Citizens wishing to adopt are provided with up to 150,000 KRW in adoption support and one year of companion animal insurance. In addition, various community events such as homecoming days for adoptive families, photo exhibitions, and pet plogging are held to foster a sense of connection.
As a result, the adoption and return rate, which was about 44% last year, has now risen significantly to around 65%. Volunteer activities such as cleaning, walking, bathing, and photography, which are open to all citizens, are also actively being conducted.
Goyang Special City has also established an institutional foundation to expand dog playgrounds by revising related ordinances and easing the minimum required area from 100,000 square meters to 30,000 square meters.
Currently, there are six dog playgrounds in operation in Goyang Special City, and in June, construction will begin on a 500-square-meter large dog playground in Jeongbalsan Park. In addition, in Changneung New Town, a 11,853-square-meter companion animal-themed park is planned in cooperation with LH.
Furthermore, QR code-based automatic entry certification systems have been introduced at Deoksu Neighborhood Park and the Ilsanseo-gu Companion Animal Park, allowing 24-hour access. This is expected to increase the companion animal registration rate and help prevent abandoned and lost animals.
Goyang Special City is also attracting nationwide attention in the field of animal empathy healing. Last year, an animal empathy healing center with a total floor area of 383.52 square meters was built at the Ilsanseo-gu Companion Animal Park, where various programs are being operated. This year, a new 'Leading Dog' program is being offered for lower-grade elementary school students.
Goyang Special City is also laying the groundwork for animal empathy healing and is working to attract the National Animal Empathy Healing Park. Currently, Goyang Research Institute is conducting a study to establish a basic plan for attracting the National Animal Empathy Healing Park. Based on the results of this research, the city plans to introduce its own animal empathy healing services and create a standard model to vitalize companion animal policies. The city also plans to continuously propose the establishment of the National Animal Empathy Healing Park to the government, leveraging various animal empathy healing programs, cultural festivals, and academic events.
Lee Donghwan, mayor of Goyang Special City, is giving a greeting speech at the 2024 Animal Interaction Therapy Culture Festival. Provided by Goyang Special City
Lee Donghwan, mayor of Goyang Special City, said, "Goyang is focusing on creating an environment where people and companion animals can live together, while also strengthening our capabilities to promote animal empathy healing," adding, "We will continue to build a city of companion animal culture where people, animals, pet owners, and non-pet owners can all be happy."
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