The center, operated directly by the city government, houses an animal hospital where veterinarians are deployed and has the highest level of facilities in the country. (Yonhap)
CHUNCHEON, May 21 (Korea Bizwire) — Abandoned dogs in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province, living under poor conditions, have found a new home.
The city opened a new animal shelter Wednesday that was created at a cost of about 2 billion won (US$1.62 million), including state funds, provincial funds and municipal funds, to improve animal welfare.
The center, operated directly by the city government, houses an animal hospital where veterinarians are deployed and has the highest level of facilities in the country.
In addition to state-of-the-art equipment such as treatment rooms in the spacious management building, the center of the building was built with special care for animal welfare.
As a result, the city began a three-day transportation operation to move 130 abandoned dogs from temporary shelters outside the city to the new shelter.
Up until now, abandoned dogs have been living under poor conditions, with many crammed into sparse breeding rooms with little more than a mat on the ground.
In addition to state-of-the-art equipment such as treatment rooms in the spacious management building, the center of the building was built with special care for animal welfare. (Yonhap)
The first 20 abandoned dogs to be moved to a new space, despite their fierce barking in a strange environment, seemed to be recovering in a stable but rapid manner.
The abandoned dogs will be placed in another home after medical checkups, and adoption will be suspended by the end of this month.
“Most abandoned dogs come in poor health and recover through treatment, but the old facility was inadequate for the injured or psychologically unstable because several dogs had to live together in one space,” said Dr. Lee Jin-seok, a veterinarian at the shelter.
“We expect adoption to be better in the future with treatment at clean facilities and individual management.”
The city reports roughly 600 stray or abandoned dogs every year. About 60 percent of the animals are returned to their owner or adopted, but the rest are left behind.
Through the reorganization, the city has created a department dedicated to animal protection centers and is striving to improve animal welfare.
D. M. Park (dmpark@koreabizwire.com)
