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Translation of News: http://news.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2012/08/16/2012081600001.html?Dep0=twitter

The pet adoption center plans to open early next month.

Through a reorganization initiative, the Seoul Metropolitan government is preparing to change the animal-related words used and to build an animal protection shelter. This follows their recent creation of the Animal Welfare Department, which is the first among all the local governments in South Korea.

Seoul’s government announced on August 15 that it would use the word “Found Animal” instead of “Stray Animal,” which means being lost or abandoned. A city official stated that they have decided to use the word “Found Animal,” which is more objective because “Stray Animal” has a negative representation, such as the abandoned animal.

In addition, the Seoul government will build a “Found Animal Shelter”. This is an acceptance of critique about animal welfare not being guaranteed because, currently, there is no animal protection shelter operated by the city. The city will also maintain a mutually cooperative relationship with 3 or 4 Animal Protection Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs). Although the city can not search for animal abuse cases or carry out punishment, they will implement policies to actively utilize tips and suggestions from animal protection NGOs.

The new Animal Welfare Department will also succeed in handling animal-related policies that were being handled intermittently by another department. Starting January 1, 2013, the Seoul government will make it mandatory for pet owners to microchip their pets older than 3 months. It will open a “companion animal adoption center” early next month at Seoul Grand Park to make abandoned animals available for adoption by citizens. Also, the city will push forward with the projects to promote an environment where humans and animals can coexist, such as implementing an animal protection honorary warden system, providing free rabies vaccination to low-income citizens, and promoting animal protection organizations.

However, the city decided not to discuss sharply controversial issues such as “banning dog meat consumption” in detail.