Recruiting 'Volunteers' to Care for Companion Dogs at Hwaseong Puppy Breeding Facility Structure

Gyeonggi-do Hwaseong Dog Breeding Farm Emergency Rescue Dog Care Volunteer Recruitment Poster

Gyeonggi Province is recruiting volunteers to help care for some of the puppies rescued from a dog breeding facility in Hwaseong City, which are currently being protected at the province’s pet complex cultural space, ‘Banryeomaru,’ in collaboration with animal protection organizations.

According to Gyeonggi Province on the 6th, Governor Kim Dong-yeon issued an urgent directive on the 1st in response to requests from over 20 animal protection groups, transferring and protecting some of the approximately 1,400 dogs abused at the breeding facility by distributing them to Banryeomaru, the Helper Dog Sharing Center, and other locations.

Currently, about 580 puppies are being cared for at Banryeomaru, but due to the poor conditions at the original breeding facility, over 110 dogs are suffering from illnesses, requiring meticulous care.

Gyeonggi Province plans to begin the adoption process for these dogs as early as the end of September. However, before adoption, many hands are needed for health checkups, vaccinations, neutering surgeries, and hygiene management.

Accordingly, Gyeonggi Province is recruiting volunteers in two shifts: morning (8:30 AM to 11:30 AM) and afternoon (1:30 PM to 4:30 PM). Anyone who loves animals can participate.

Volunteers will be responsible for cleaning the protection rooms, feeding and exercise support, social media (SNS) promotion, bathing, grooming, and hygiene management at Banryeomaru (1-2 Myeongpum 1-ro, Yeoju-si).

Gyeonggi Province, together with animal protection organizations, will actively promote a campaign to foster an adoption culture to proceed with the adoption process in the future.

Those wishing to volunteer can apply through the Gyeonggi Animal Protection Welfare Platform (animal.gg.go.kr) or the 1365 Volunteer Portal (www.1365.go.kr). For more details, inquiries can be made to Banryeomaru at 031-881-1800 or 010-7219-1800.

Meanwhile, on the 2nd, Governor Kim Dong-yeon, while overseeing the rescue and transfer of surviving animals at Banryeomaru, stated, “We will do our best to care for them well so that the dogs can live healthy lives,” and added, “Dogs and pets are not commodities to be bought and sold, but should be adopted and raised with love and affection. I hope everyone will join together to create a society where we live in harmony.”

Gyeonggi Province has been making efforts for animal welfare, including reorganizing the Livestock and Forestry Bureau into the ‘Livestock Animal Welfare Bureau’ last December and establishing the country’s first ‘Animal Welfare Division’ and ‘Companion Animal Division.’ Following animal abuse incidents such as the ‘Yangpyeong dog carcass case’ in March, a ‘Animal Abuse Prevention Team’ was also established within the Special Judicial Police Unit to firmly respond to illegal acts of animal abuse.