Pet adoption event to take place in Seoul

A dog plays in a swimming pool. Courtesy of Seoul Metropolitan Government

By Jung Da-hyun

Seoul will host an event to promote adopting abandoned pets, Sunday.

The “festival” open to those who have adopted abandoned animals will be held on the rooftop of a building in Gangdong District, Eastern Seoul from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

The event will feature a swimming pool and a playground for dogs, along with various programs, including a dog-themed quiz contest. Counseling sessions with professional trainers will also be available.

In addition, there will be an adoption promotion booth set up to introduce abandoned animals currently under the care of the Seoul Animal Care Center through photos and videos. Through this initiative, the city government aims to encourage the adoption of abandoned animals.

“Seoul has a variety of projects in place to create an environment where both people and animals can live together happily. We hope that the public will take an interest in abandoned pets waiting for a family to stay with,” said Lee Mi-sook the chief of the Animal Protection Division at the Seoul Metropolitan Government.

Meanwhile, the number of abandoned animals has seen a decline for three consecutive years. It reached an all-time high of 135,791 in 2019, but it decreased to 113,440 in 2022.