Animal Shelter Operated by Changwon City (Yonhap)
CHANGWON, South Korea, Jan. 1 (Korea Bizwire) — A new animal shelter in Changwon, built to consolidate the city’s three existing facilities, is already struggling with overcrowding, leading the city to make difficult decisions, including euthanizing some stray dogs.
The Changwon Pet Village, located in Seongsan District, opened in May 2024. Spanning 1,442 square meters, the facility includes care rooms, isolation units, adoption consultation areas, and veterinary clinics.
However, it has quickly neared capacity with 445 dogs, even before the planned transfer of 198 dogs from the Jinhae shelter in February 2025, which would raise the total to about 700.
Overcapacity and Community Concerns
Designed to hold up to 500 animals, the center’s optimal capacity is estimated at 400, a number that prioritizes animal welfare and safety.
The city had initially planned to house all 700 stray dogs from the former shelters but acknowledged after opening that such a number would compromise the facility’s efficiency and welfare standards.
Local animal welfare groups opposed the consolidation project early on, warning that merging the shelters would reduce overall space. Now, with the center nearing capacity, the city is grappling with how to manage the overflow.
Changwon Special City opened the ‘Changwon Special City Integrated Animal Shelter’ in Sangbok-dong, Seongsan District, in October 2024. However, the facility’s capacity is proving insufficient to accommodate the steadily increasing number of stray animals. (Changwon City)
Adoption and Euthanasia Efforts
Changwon has prioritized increasing adoptions to address the issue. The shelter has expanded its “Adoption Day” events from six days a week for one hour to seven days a week for two hours.
Starting in January 2025, the city will also utilize the mobile adoption platform “Paw in Hand” to connect more dogs with prospective adopters.
However, officials acknowledge that euthanasia remains an unavoidable measure to control the population. Humane treatment guidelines, as outlined by South Korea’s Animal Protection Act, govern such actions.
In October 2024, 19 dogs were euthanized, followed by 15 in November and 89 in December. Despite these figures, Changwon’s euthanasia rate of 10.1% remains below the national average of 18%.
Looking Ahead
“We are implementing various initiatives to promote adoptions and maintain a manageable shelter population,” said Choi Myung-han, director of the Agricultural Technology Center. “Our priority is to provide a comfortable and humane environment for the animals under our care.”
As Changwon balances adoption campaigns with population control, the shelter’s challenges highlight broader issues surrounding animal welfare and sustainable solutions for managing stray animals in South Korea.
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
