**Basic Livelihood Security Recipients, Near-Poverty Group, and Single-Parent Families as Target**
The city of Seoul will commence a pet funeral support program for socially disadvantaged individuals on April 1. Starting from the following day, Seoul city announced on the 31st that it would launch a support program allowing socially disadvantaged pet owners to hold pet funerals for 50,000 won. From this year, the program includes both pet dogs and cats.
According to Seoul city, the funeral services provided include △embalming, △memorial services, △cremation and ash processing, and △enshrinement and handover. Eligible participants only need to pay 50,000 won for funeral costs, regardless of the pet’s weight.
The program targets individuals registered as recipients of basic livelihood security, the near-poverty group, or single-parent families. They can receive essential funeral services for a pet, including memorial and cremation, by paying 50,000 won per pet.
Notably, this year, the support has been expanded to include pet cats in addition to dogs. In consideration of the lack of pet funeral homes within Seoul, ten branches will be operated mainly in accessible locations near Seoul for user convenience.
This year, Seoul will collaborate with three companies—21gram, Pet Forest, and Four Paws—to operate ten branches in the metropolitan area. They will offer basic funeral services for 50,000 won, regardless of the animal’s weight.
Eligible participants wishing to receive basic pet funeral services must first select one of the designated companies and make an inquiry via phone for funeral and consultation registration. They should then visit the designated funeral home with the required documents. Notably, for pet dogs, the owner must have the pet registered under a socially disadvantaged status.
When visiting the pet funeral home, participants must bring documents proving their social welfare status, such as a certificate of recipient status or a single-parent family certificate.
Any additional goods or services beyond the basic pet funeral service offered by Seoul city will require additional costs to be borne by the pet owner.
Lee Soo-yeon, Director of the Seoul Metropolitan Government’s Green City Department, stated, “Pets are precious beings no different from family,” hoping that “this program will alleviate the financial burden of pet funerals and promote a healthy pet funeral culture, allowing enough time for mourning and memorial.”
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