Yongin City Announces 'Declaration of Coexistence Between People and Companion Animals'

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Choi Ki-ho] Yongin Special City held a commemorative event at the Yongin Animal Protection Center on the 8th in observance of the 'Fifth Companion Animals Day.'

The event was attended by Mayor Lee Sang-il of Yongin City, private animal protection organization leaders, animal protection center staff and volunteers, as well as professors and students from Yongin University of Science and Technology, which has an agreement with the city.

The event proceeded with a cake-cutting ceremony wishing for the health and adoption of abandoned dogs, provision of homemade specialty snacks called 'Healthier Pooches' for abandoned dogs, a recitation of the declaration on coexistence between people and companion animals, commemorative photographs, and walks with the animals.

The cake featured dog-shaped products that dogs can eat with the phrase 'I Love You! Yongin City Companion Animals Day' inscribed on it. Homemade specialty snacks were provided to 300 abandoned dogs that day.

The declaration included content about preventing the occurrence of abandoned animals, loving and protecting all dogs, and making efforts to establish an adoption culture for abandoned dogs. It also included efforts to encourage protection of and adoption of abandoned dogs, raise awareness and improve public perception of abandoned dogs, and work toward a society where companion animals live together with people.

Companion Animals Day was established according to the 'Ordinance to Support Companion Culture Creation for Animal Protection in Yongin City and Happy Coexistence Between People and Animals.' Among the 31 cities and counties in Gyeonggi Province, only Yongin Special City designates Companion Animals Day through ordinance.

Meanwhile, Yongin City's adoption rate, including owner returns and transfers, reached 85% as of last year, leading to benchmarking efforts from local governments across the nation.

Mayor Lee Sang-il said, "The Yongin Animal Protection Center, which local governments across the nation visit to benchmark, has a high adoption rate for abandoned animals and excellent facilities," and added, "To solve the increasingly serious problem of abandoned animals, all local governments nationwide must pool their efforts and wisdom, and I believe Yongin City can set exemplary cases in that process."