YONGIN — The city of Yongin is preparing a culture festival where pet owners and their animals can spend the day together.
The city said on the 14th that it will hold the pet culture festival "Happy With Yongin" at the Sky Plaza of City Hall from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the 17th.
Now in its fifth year, the event is designed to promote a culture in which people and animals coexist. Its aims are to reduce the number of abandoned animals and to raise public awareness of responsible pet ownership.
The venue will offer a range of programs that owners and their pets can join together. A talk concert, a walking class and a pet sports day are planned, along with hands-on booths that visitors can enjoy as a family.
A "Joayong Sports Day," in which owners and their dogs complete missions together, will also be held. It features participatory programs that test teamwork between owner and dog, including a "Come Here Challenge," a "Stay Challenge" and an agility run.
A picnic zone with drinking water and resting space will be set up at the venue. A playground where pets can run freely will also be open for visitors' convenience.
Visitors can make honorary citizenship cards featuring photos of their pets and take pictures at a photo zone. The programs are intended to give owners a keepsake of the day spent with their animals.
Health and behavior consultations will be available as well. At a one-on-one health consultation booth, veterinarians will advise owners on everyday concerns about their dogs' health. At a behavior consultation booth and the walking class, trainers will offer guidance on correcting problem behavior, walking techniques and pet etiquette.
A hands-on session on pet CPR for emergencies is also planned. Participants can learn basic responses needed in urgent situations firsthand.
A talk concert featuring trainer Lee Woong-jong will be held. The lecture will focus on pet etiquette and establishing a culture of responsible pet ownership, followed by a question-and-answer session on issues such as problem behavior in dogs.
The Yongin Animal Protection Center will run an adoption booth for rescued dogs at the venue. Through the campaign to find new families for animals in its care, the center plans to convey the meaning of respect for life.
An unconventional pet photo exhibition will be held alongside the festival. Photos capturing special moments with pets will be introduced, and the best entries will be displayed at the venue.
"We have also prepared hands-on activities that families can enjoy together, such as caricatures, face painting, and making name tags and leashes," a city official said. "We hope residents spend a happy day with their dogs."