Hwaseong Special City Opens Pet Medical and Adoption Center

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Jung Jun-sung] Hwaseong Special City held a grand opening ceremony for the ‘Pet Medical Center and Adoption Center’ in Songsan-dong, Byeongjeom-gu on the 10th and began full-scale operations aimed at alleviating medical expenses for vulnerable populations and promoting adoption of abandoned animals.

The center was established to enhance the efficiency of pet welfare services and strengthen the public role in caring for abandoned animals. Beyond simply protecting animals, it operates as a comprehensive welfare space providing basic veterinary medical benefits to households facing economic hardship and helping abandoned animals find new families.

The center, developed on an area of approximately 254㎡, is equipped with specialized medical facilities including reception areas, treatment rooms, pharmaceutical rooms, and radiographic examination rooms, as well as adoption counseling rooms, play spaces, and bathing and grooming facilities. The center provides reduced-cost basic medical treatment and vaccinations for pets of vulnerable population households, and conducts consultations and education for animals transferred from abandoned animal shelters before proceeding with adoption procedures.

Additionally, the city plans to continuously operate proper pet culture education programs (pet etiquette lectures), walking lessons, and behavioral correction programs through the center to support harmonious coexistence between residents and their pets.

The opening ceremony was attended by Mayor Jung Myung-geun, Council Chairman Bae Jeong-su, provincial and city council members, Kim Sung-gi, president of the Hwaseong Veterinary Medical Association, and local residents. The event proceeded with calligraphy performance, facility tours, ribbon cutting, and photo sessions.

Meanwhile, the city plans to inspect regional pet welfare facilities and solicit public opinion from this opening forward, with the aim of continuously implementing effective animal welfare policies.

Mayor Jung Myung-geun stated, “Pets are now members of the family who share our lives,” and added, “We hope this center will ease the economic burden on vulnerable households and become a space where abandoned animals can safely find new homes.”

He further said, “We will make our best efforts to provide administrative support at the municipal level to create an environment where residents and animals can live together in harmony.”