Crackdown on Unregistered and Unreported Animals to Begin Next Month
Yangcheon District in Seoul (District Mayor Lee Gijae) will operate a "voluntary animal registration reporting period" until October 31 to prevent the loss and abandonment of companion animals and to ensure systematic management.
According to the current Animal Protection Act, all dogs over two months old must be registered, and owners are also required to report any changes in their information or the animal's status. Failure to report incidents such as loss, recovery, or death can result in a fine.
To encourage voluntary registration and prevent issues arising from unregistered animals, the district will exempt fines for new registrations or change notifications made during this period. Registration can be completed at a district-designated animal hospital, where owners can choose between an embedded microchip or an external collar-type device. Change notifications can be submitted through designated agencies, the Government24 portal, or the National Animal Protection Information System. Additionally, for embedded microchip registration, the district will subsidize the registration fee for up to 250 animals this year. Owners can receive the subsidy by submitting an application after registering at a designated agency.
Starting in November, immediately after the voluntary reporting period ends, the district will begin cracking down on unregistered or unreported animals. Owners of unregistered dogs may face fines of up to 600,000 won, while those who fail to report changes may be fined up to 400,000 won.
Lee Gijae, Mayor of Yangcheon District, stated, "Animal registration is not just a simple administrative procedure, but the minimum safety measure to protect companion animals," and urged residents to actively participate in animal registration during this voluntary reporting period.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
