Can the Pets at Lee Gi-young's Home Find New Families?

Euthanasia After About 10 Days Post-Rescue
Animal Rescue Association: "Adoption Inquiries Are Coming In"

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Juhee] The pets found in the home of Lee Gi-young, who was arrested on charges of murdering a taxi driver and his cohabiting partner, have been rescued and are awaiting adoption. It has been reported that there are already inquiries from applicants who wish to adopt the pets. In principle, rescued pets must be adopted within about 10 days, or they will be euthanized.

On the 30th of last month, one dog (mixed breed) and three cats (Siamese, Russian Blue, Korean Shorthair) were rescued from an apartment in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, where Lee resided. This was five days after Lee was apprehended on the 25th of the same month.

Earlier, the apartment management office received complaints from residents about a dog barking. The management office sought cooperation from Paju City Hall and the police, obtained a pet abandonment agreement from Lee, and proceeded with the rescue. The rescued pets were sent to the Korea Animal Rescue Management Association (the Association) in Yangju City. The animals are reported to be in good health.

Pets raised by Lee Gi-young, who was arrested on charges of murdering a taxi driver and his cohabiting partner. / Screenshot from the Korea Animal Rescue Management Association website

It is not precisely known when Lee began raising the pets. However, the Association estimated the ages of the pets as follows: the mixed breed dog is 2 years old, the Siamese cat is 1 year old, the Russian Blue cat is 5 years old, and the Korean Shorthair cat is 4 years old. Neighbors testified that Lee often took the dog out for walks.

Currently, the Association’s website has adoption notices for the four pets Lee raised. Typically, if no adoption inquiries are received within 10 to 15 days, euthanasia is carried out.

However, it has been reported that there are inquiries about adopting the four pets Lee raised. An Association official said on the 2nd, "The adoption notices are currently posted, and inquiries continue to come in," adding, "Although we cannot guarantee that all will definitely be adopted even if there are many inquiries, there are inquiries for all four pets."

Meanwhile, Lee is accused of causing a collision with a taxi while driving under the influence in Goyang City, Gyeonggi Province, on the night of the 20th of last month, then luring the taxi driver to his home in Paju under the pretense of paying a settlement, murdering him with a blunt weapon, and abandoning the body in a wardrobe.

Lee also confessed during the investigation to murdering a woman in her 50s, who was the owner of the Paju house and his ex-girlfriend, and abandoning her body along the Gongneung Stream in Paju. The police have been conducting search operations around Gongneung Stream but have not yet found the body.