Guidelines for rescued animal shelters unveiled

In this file photo taken on Sept. 9, 2021, rescued dogs are at The Bom Center, an animal-friendly rescue shelter run by Korean Animal Rights Advocates (KARA) in Paju, Gyeonggi Province. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul

By Lee Hae-rin

Rescued animals are to have more light and fresh air in public shelters, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, which unveiled guidelines for shelters and their operations, Wednesday.

The guidelines contain detailed instructions on rescue shelter facilities, including on spatial arrangements by animal type, ventilation, humidity levels, temperature control systems, noise levels and odor prevention.

Over 280 animal shelters are operated by local governments across the country under the Animal Protection Act. Although the act contains some facility standards, local officials had previously struggled before constructing the shelters, due to the lack of detailed instructions about the facilities.

"The guidelines were made based on our research of good practices in animal behavior and shelter management at home and abroad. We also took field trips to countries that have good practices in those areas before coming up with the guidelines," an official from the ministry told The Korea Times, Wednesday, asking not to be named for he was not authorized to speak to the media.

Animal rights organizations that run private shelters, veterinarians and other specialists in the industry participated in the process as the ministry was drafting the guidelines.

"About 280 public animal shelters are under operation by local governments. Many local governments have expressed their willingness and the need to build rescue shelters, and the ministry plans to support them by providing these guidelines and an animal infrastructure plan," the ministry official said.

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