INCHEON — Incheon will run a pilot program for registering dogs by their nose prints in the Gyeyang and Michuhol districts through October, the city said.
Nose-print registration is a biometric method that records a dog's information by photographing the unique pattern on its nose. It offers the advantage of reducing the risk of losing an external ID tag or the burden of implanting an internal microchip.
A specialized company will set up temporary registration booths at apartment complexes, dog shelters and community service centers. At the Gyeyang Kkonmaru shelter, dogs can be registered on weekends from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Nose-print registration is not yet legally recognized as an official method of animal registration, so an external registration must be completed alongside it. Incheon will cover the costs of both the nose-print and external registrations.
Residents of other cities and districts, not just Gyeyang and Michuhol, can register their dogs free of charge.
