Special Suwon City Does—5: 'Pet-Friendly City' Where People and Animals Coexist

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Jung Jun-sung] Walking through the streets, one frequently encounters people taking pets for walks. As of late March, 97,843 animals are registered in Suwon Special City. With 544,000 households in Suwon, approximately one out of every five to six households owns a pet.

Suwon City, which is building a 'pet-friendly city where people and animals coexist,' is fostering a proper pet culture and establishing substantial animal welfare infrastructure.

Vision Declaration of 'Well-Mannered Citizen Dogs (Manner Dogs) for a Hundred-Year Plan'

In October 2023, Suwon held a 'Pet Education City Vision Declaration Ceremony' and declared the vision of 'well-mannered citizen dogs (manner dogs) for a hundred-year plan.' Through manner dog education and abandoned pet adoption cafes, the city is creating a culture where general citizens, pet owners, and pets coexist harmoniously.

In 2024, the city introduced the 'Manner Dog Certification System.' A 'manner dog' refers to a registered dog that has passed a 10-step training program and knows how to observe public etiquette. The city provides education for dogs and their owners, conducts tests, and certifies manner dogs.

Manner dog certification is a two-year process. After receiving educational certification (first certification) in the first year, dogs must additionally pass a test in the second year to be certified as manner dogs (second certification). In 2024, 20 pet dogs received educational certification for the first time, and 10 dogs were certified as manner dogs in the 2025 certification test. 32 dogs received educational certification.

This year, five rounds of manner dog certification education and certification tests are planned from June 12 through September.

Manner Dogs Permitted Entry to 6 Public Buildings

Manner dogs are permitted access to six public buildings: the Gwanggyo Lake Park Visitor Center, and the civil petition offices of five Administrative Welfare Centers in Yulcheon-dong, Ipbuk-dong, Gwanggyo 2-dong, Seryu 1-dong, and Woncheon-dong. Twenty pet-related facilities, including animal hospitals, provide preferential benefits for manner dogs.

The Pet Care Center and four district industry teams operate 'Pet Culture Classrooms.' Programs are composed of experiential activities in which pet dogs and their owners participate together, such as proper walking techniques. Public etiquette can be learned naturally.

From May through November, the city operates 'Pet Etiquette Education' for kindergartens, elementary and middle schools, neighborhood associations, and community leader councils. The program explains pet-related knowledge such as animal protection laws and pet etiquette, as well as animal welfare and the concept of respect for life in an easily understandable manner.

Designation and Operation of '2026 Blue Hands Suwon Abandoned Animal Adoption Shelter'

To revitalize adoption of abandoned animals, the city designates six animal hospitals as '2026 Blue Hands Suwon Abandoned Animal Adoption Shelters' and operates them. Animals protected by the Suwon Animal Protection Center are temporarily cared for in the abandoned animal adoption shelters in groups of up to three, while promoting adoption.

The city designated animal hospitals located throughout the city so that citizens can easily meet abandoned animals. The six facilities are: △Jangan Animal Hospital (Jowon-dong) △Ray Animal Hospital (Jeongja-dong) △Duri Animal Hospital (Seryu-dong) △Plus Animal Medical Center (Yeongdeung-dong) △24-Hour Your Animal Medical Center (Cheoncheon-dong) △Gwanggyo Mountain Animal Hospital (Younghwa-dong).

Visitors to the designated animal hospitals can interact with protected abandoned animals. As of late March, the Suwon Animal Protection Center is protecting and managing 174 lost and abandoned animals: 113 dogs, 45 cats, and 16 other animals. Those who adopt abandoned animals receive support including adoption fees (up to 150,000 won) and animal registration services.

The city also operates the 'Suwon Pet Dog Patrol Unit.' The patrol unit, which began operations in October 2024, consists of pet owners and their dogs walking together to report missing persons, intoxicated individuals and other people in danger, and hazardous conditions such as broken fences and clogged drainage pipes. The unit also conducts joint patrols and campaign activities with relevant departments and related organizations.

Annual Autumn Festival Held with Pets, Pet Owners, and Citizens Together

Each autumn, the city holds festivals bringing together pets and their owners. In October 2024, the city held the 'Ttok-Dog (Smart DOG) Festival,' and in October of last year, the '2025 Pet Harmony Festival.' This is a citizen-participation festival in which pet owners, animals, and non-pet owners gather together to understand animals and share proper pet culture. This year's Pet Harmony Festival is scheduled to be held on October 24 at Gwanggyo Central Park.

The city supports a pet medical service support project for low-income households with pets. Eligible households are those with a household registration address in the city, actually residing there, and maintaining a pet registered in their own name with an income at or below 85% of the median income standard.

The city provides up to 160,000 won for medical care, pet care, and funeral services per animal, and up to 320,000 won for comprehensive checkups for elderly animals (born on or before December 31, 2019). One guardian may apply for up to two animals, and each animal may select only one support item.

Medical support includes vaccinations, neutering surgery, basic checkups, and treatment costs. Pet care deposit fees and burial services are also supported. The support project period runs through November 30.

Suwon citizens can receive discounts on funeral costs when using pet funeral halls with which the city has signed agreements.

In January, the city signed a 'Business Agreement for Coexistence and Development of Pet Funeral Culture' with Pet Doc Co., Ltd. (Popoz Hwaseong Branch 2). Suwon citizens with animal registration who use Popoz Hwaseong Branch 2 can receive a 10% discount (up to 50,000 won) on funeral costs. Low-income households and citizens who adopted pets from the Suwon Pet Care Center receive a discount rate of 20% (up to 100,000 won).

The city has also signed an agreement with 'Story Pet' located in Hwaseong City and is providing discounts on cremation and enshrinement fees.

A city official stated, "As the population of pet owners increases, the importance of proper pet culture is also growing," and added, "We will continue to make efforts to create a happy city where people and pets live together."