Abandonment Suspected Since March at Gampo Market in Gyeongju
Cases of Abandoned Breed Seedlings Surge... Poor Nutrition and Health
Seven cats were found abandoned in Gyeongju, Gyeongbuk. The Gyeongju city government has requested an investigation from the police.
American Shorthair protected at Gyeongju City Animal Protection Center. [Image source=Gyeongju City]
On the 8th, Yonhap News reported, "From March to last month, seven cats were found in five separate incidents around Gampo Market and Yeondong-ri in Gampo-eup, Gyeongju." According to the report, these cats were so-called pedigree cats (purebred cats) such as American Shorthair and British Shorthair, which can be traded between individuals for millions of won. The city believes there may be more abandoned cats and has secured nearby CCTV footage and witness statements to request an investigation from the Gyeongju Police Station.
At the time of discovery, these cats were in poor nutritional condition and showed symptoms of eye disease and skin disease. They are currently receiving treatment at the city’s Animal Love Protection Center and are waiting to be adopted. The city suspects that these rescued cats were 'breeding cats' raised for mating and breeding purposes at breeding farms, as none of them were neutered and they did not avoid human contact such as from veterinarians.
Lee Seon-mi, head of the city’s Animal Protection Team, stated, "It is highly likely that someone used these pedigree cats for commercial purposes such as breeding and raising, and abandoned them when they were no longer needed." She emphasized, "Recently, cases of abandoning pedigree cats have surged nationwide, not just in Gyeongju, so it is essential to catch the culprit through police investigation." Abandoning animals is an act of abuse, and under the Animal Protection Act, those who abandon animals can face fines of up to 3 million won.
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