Choi Mi-geum, CEO of Donghaeng, "Stray dogs are not at fault... People are the problem"

‘A Happy World with Animals’ CEO Choi Mi-geum
"Once You Adopt a Life, You Must Take Responsibility Until the End"
"Dirty and Sick?... You Must First Get Rid of Prejudice"

“There is no case where abandoned animals just fall from the sky. Sometimes it happens due to negligence when a family momentarily loses grip, or because the animal gets sick or the owner cannot provide proper care and decides to abandon it. Ultimately, these situations arise entirely from human mistakes.”

Dog. Photo by Asia Economy DB

Choi Mi-geum, CEO of “A Happy World with Animals” (hereafter referred to as Donghaeng), an organization dedicated to rescuing and adopting abandoned animals, pointed out the current status of the exponentially increasing number of abandoned animals in South Korea during an interview on the 20th. Donghaeng is a civic animal rescue organization that takes responsibility for rescuing and adopting abandoned animals. They rescue not only dogs and cats but also donkeys, pigs, and other animals, striving to create a better environment for animals to live in Korea.

The number of abandoned companion animals is on the rise. According to statistics from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, the number of lost and abandoned animals last year was 111,720, consistently exceeding 100,000 since 2019. The stories behind abandonment are varied, including impulsive adoptions followed by relinquishment, irresponsible guardians, negligence, financial difficulties, moving, allergies, and abuse.

CEO Choi emphasized, “Just as people plan their families before having a baby, adopting a dog or other companion animal should be a careful decision. Once adopted, it is a life that must be cared for responsibly until the end. It is not something that can be discarded or ignored just because it becomes tiresome or sick.”

Choi Mi-geum, the representative of "Happy World with Animals" (hereinafter referred to as Donghaeng), an organization for rescuing and adopting stray animals, is walking a rescued dog under her care. Provided by Donghaeng

According to a recent pet report published by KB Financial Group, as of last year, there are 12.62 million pet owners (5.52 million households) in South Korea. Excluding health management and treatment costs for injuries or illnesses, these owners spent an average of 154,000 KRW on regular pet care expenses. Among respondents, 73.4% of households spent an average of 787,000 KRW on treatment costs for their pets, a 71% increase compared to 2021. Households spending over 1 million KRW also increased by 8% to 18.8% compared to 2021. This indicates that more households are spending significant amounts on veterinary bills.

He also mentioned, “During COVID-19, as outdoor activities decreased, the demand for pets surged, especially for dogs purchased from pet shops. Recently, due to the aftermath of the endemic’s disappearance, many of these pets are being abandoned recklessly.”

CEO Choi advised that to prepare for the possibility of losing a companion animal due to negligence, owners should definitely implant a pet registration microchip. There are two types of registration: an internal chip the size of a grain of rice implanted in the back, and an external type with an electronic chip embedded in a collar worn around the neck. Owners can visit a nearby veterinary hospital to choose and register either type. Changing the guardian’s personal information such as phone number or home address can also be easily done at the veterinary hospital.

Choi Mi-geum, the representative of "Happy World with Animals" (hereinafter referred to as Donghaeng), an organization for rescuing and adopting stray animals, is walking dogs together with Donghaeng activists. Photo by Donghaeng

CEO Choi also pointed out the need for active promotion of ways to find abandoned animals. He said, “Although abandoned dogs can be registered and found through the application ‘Paw in Hands,’ it is limited because it can only be used on mobile phones. However, by accessing the Animal Protection Management System, one can view information on all abandoned animals managed by shelters nationwide, so it is necessary to actively publicize this.”

Donghaeng rescues about 200 abandoned animals annually from the streets. Among them, approximately 150 are successfully adopted. Donghaeng focuses as much as possible on promoting the adoption of abandoned animals to prevent the accumulation of animals under their care.

CEO Choi stressed, “It is a common but mistaken belief that abandoned animals are dirty and full of germs and trauma, which leads to opposition to all adoptions. The most urgent task is to discard all kinds of prejudices against abandoned animals.” He encouraged adoption by adding, “Companion animals that have once been lost or abandoned often quickly form attachments with their second owners. In some cases, they settle into their new homes within just one day.”