The government plans to almost double the nation’s animal registration rate in a bid to minimize the number of stray animals. 

The government reached the decision on Thursday during a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum on ways to improve management of abandoned animals. 

The government said the need for improvement had become imperative with a growing number of households having pets and amid a strong interest toward animal protection and welfare. A series of accidents involving stray animals was also cited. 

The government is aiming to increase the animal registration rate from last year’s 38-point-six percent to nearly 70 percent by 2024, which is similar to levels in advanced countries. 

To that end, the government plans to restrict entry to public facilities to people with unregistered animals. 

The government also plans to neuter more than 85 percent of outdoor dogs by 2026 as part of efforts to reduce the number of stray animals.