Jongno-gu, led by District Mayor Yoo Chan-jong, is launching an integrated pet care service covering hygiene, veterinary treatment and boarding to help vulnerable residents look after their companion animals with peace of mind.
The initiative comprises three programs designed to reduce financial burdens on pet owners and protect animal health: a mobile dog-bathing service, a neighborhood animal clinic program and a neighborhood pet boarding service.
The mobile dog-bathing service sends a specially equipped vehicle directly to each household to assess a dog's hygiene and provide the necessary grooming.
The district will select the first 30 registered dogs on a first-come, first-served basis, with services beginning in September. Each visit covers bathing and drying, nail trimming and paw-pad grooming, and a consultation with the owner. Trained staff will assess each dog's individual behavioral traits and gently manage any anxiety responses that arise in unfamiliar settings.
The neighborhood animal clinic program, aimed at lowering veterinary costs, is divided into essential and optional care. Essential care includes a basic health checkup, vaccinations and heartworm prevention, while optional care covers procedures such as spaying and neutering.
Support is capped at 400,000 won ($283) per animal — 200,000 won for essential care and 200,000 won for optional care — and owners may apply for up to two animals. The owner's co-payment is 10,000 won. When emergency surgery is deemed necessary, the district will refer owners to hospitals that provide pro bono procedures at no out-of-pocket cost.
The neighborhood pet boarding service is designed for moments when owners must be away — such as hospitalization or business travel. A total of 10 boarding days are available, which owners can split across any number of visits; single-person households may use up to five days per half-year. The service is entirely free.
All three programs are open to recipients of basic livelihood benefits, near-poverty households, single-parent families, people with disabilities and socially isolated households within the district. For details on how to apply, residents may contact the Animal Protection Team under the Tourism and Sports Division.
"We will meaningfully ease the burden of pet care — from hygiene and veterinary treatment to boarding — for our most vulnerable residents," District Mayor Yoo said. "We will embed the value of respect for life into our administration and build a city where people and animals thrive together in harmony."
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