SEOUL, Sept. 15 (Korea Bizwire) — The Seoul Metropolitan Government said Tuesday that it will start a ‘neighborhood animal hospital’ program that offers medical treatment for pets raised by members of vulnerable groups.
The program will help financially vulnerable groups to provide medical treatment for their pet animals, including basic health check-ups, mandatory vaccines and medicines to prevent infections with dirofilaria immitis.
In a survey conducted by the city of 604 financially stricken individuals in 2019, 37.7 percent responded that they were forced to cut their living expenses to adopt and raise a pet, while 7.8 percent said they had borrowed money from others to provide for their pets.
The program will be open to recipients of the basic livelihood subsidies and low-income groups currently residing in Seoul and owning a dog or a cat.
They can visit a nearby hospital designated by the city and pay a maximum amount of 10,000 won per session to cover medical treatment for their pets.
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