[Report] Yeongdori, Whose Paws Were Completely Burned, Did Not Move... Animals With No Compensation or Place to Go

After the Gyeongbuk Wildfire
Yeongdori, the Cat Miraculously Rescued
Second- and Third-Degree Burns on Face and Paw Pads
One Hundred Rescued Animals Have Nowhere to Go
No News from the State, Owners, or Adopters
"Let's Restrict Animal Breeding Businesses"

On the 3rd, a cat named Yeongdori was rescued in Andong, Gyeongbuk. It was found with second- to third-degree burns on its face and paw pads due to wildfire damage. The photo shows Yeongdori looking outside from inside a carrier before receiving treatment on the 16th. Photo by Seungseop Song

Paw Pads Completely Burned by Wildfire... Unable to Flee

Yeongdori was a cat that lived in the Andong area of Gyeongbuk. No one knows how old he is, what his original name was, or what kind of personality he had, but at the very least, he likely roamed around energetically like any other living creature.

Yeongdori was first discovered on the 3rd. After the wildfire that started in Uiseong, Gyeongbuk was extinguished, he was dramatically rescued by an activist from a civic group searching for animal victims. At the time, Yeongdori was sitting on the bricks of a slate shack that had collapsed in the fire. His entire body was covered in black ash. Had one not looked closely, he could have been mistaken for debris at the scene of the fire.

A photo taken before rescuing the cat Youngdol, found on the 3rd in Andong, Gyeongbuk. The pads of all four paws were burned and peeled, unable to escape the flames. Photo by Kara, Animal Rights Advocacy

The activists who found Yeongdori approached him cautiously to rescue him, as he might have run away upon seeing strangers. However, Yeongdori did not move at all. This was because all four of his paw pads had been burned by the wildfire. Unable to move due to excruciating pain, Yeongdori was easily rescued.

Afterward, a painful and arduous treatment process began. Yeongdori received emergency care from veterinarians at the scene and was transported by the animal rights group Kara to an animal hospital in Mapo-gu, Seoul. His condition was worse than expected. Veterinarian Seol Yoonji from Kara explained, "It varies by body part, but most of the burns are second- to third-degree and extremely severe," adding, "Even the dermis under the skin was burned."

Oozing Wounds and Excruciating Pain... Yeongdori Cannot Make a Sound

On the 16th, Yeongdori, a cat affected by the wildfire in Gyeongbuk, is seen waiting inside a carrier for treatment. Photo by Seungseop Song

On the 16th, Yeongdori was met at Kara's office in Mapo-gu, Seoul. That day, Yeongdori was being transferred to the Kara The Bom Center, an animal shelter in Paju. Since the center has its own animal hospital, he would be able to receive intensive treatment there. Yeongdori's face was still raw from the burns. Both ears showed red burn marks, and his left eye was only half open, unable to fully open. All four legs, unable to walk, were tightly wrapped in bandages.

For a human, this would be pain enough to scream, but Yeongdori neither made a sound nor moved. Even inside the carrier for treatment, and during the more than two-hour journey from Seoul to Paju, Yeongdori remained deathly still. The same was true when the carrier was opened upon arrival at the shelter. While another cat might have tried to bolt for the exit the moment it appeared, Yeongdori turned his back to the outside world and only stared into the dark interior. His eyes seemed resigned, gazing into empty space.

On the 16th, activists and veterinarians are seen taking Youngdori out of a carrier for treatment at the Kara The Bom Center, an animal shelter in Paju, Gyeonggi Province. Photo by Seungseop Song

Treatment began immediately upon arrival at the shelter. To treat the most severe burns on his paw pads, Yeongdori was placed on the examination table, and when the bandages were removed, fluid oozed from the red burn wounds. Even as disinfectant was applied to prevent secondary infection, Yeongdori remained silent. He seemed exhausted even from expressing pain. Even without such treatment, he would have to endure another two to three months, but a full recovery is unlikely. The pads on a cat's paws, often called "jelly," may heal but do not regenerate.

Nowhere to Go After Treatment... 100 Rescued Animals Left Abandoned

The problem remains even after treatment. Yeongdori has nowhere to return to. Without a pet identification chip, it is impossible to find his original owner. All that can be done is to wait and hope the owner makes contact, but so far, there has been no news. The only hope is the slim chance of adoption.

Like Yeongdori, a total of 187 animals were rescued as victims of the recent Gyeongbuk wildfire. Most are companion animals such as dogs and cats. Of these, only about 10% have returned to their original owners. Excluding those whose owners could be found or are being treated on behalf of their owners, there are about 100 animals with nowhere to go. Animal organizations that were at the rescue sites have been informing residents about the animals in their care, but no owners have come forward.

Animal organizations are busily searching for places for the animals to go, but it is not easy. The best option is to transfer them to shelters owned by the state or local governments and wait for adoption. However, entering national facilities requires meeting legal requirements, and it is not easy for rescued companion animals to be admitted. It is also uncertain whether other local governments will accept animals from the Gyeongbuk region. Euthanasia is not considered, as it is not carried out in principle.

As a result, six animal organizations must care for the rescued animals according to their own circumstances. The problem is capacity. Most private animal shelters in Korea are suffering from severe overcrowding. For example, the Kara The Bom Center is built on a 4,022-square-meter site and is designed to house about 200 animals, but it is currently difficult to make room for more. This is because animals that have been abandoned, abused, or injured in disasters like this one are still living there.

'Danbi' was rescued during the 2022 wildfire in Uljin, Gyeongbuk. Despite being tied with a leash, Danbi survived. However, the dog that was tied next to Danbi, just 1 meter away, could not escape the flames and died. The photo shows the moment Danbi was found, looking at the dog that was tied together and died. Photo by Kara, Animal Rights.

Where will Yeongdori and Howoo live in the future? If they are not adopted, it is highly likely they will spend the rest of their lives in the shelter. Danbi, whom I met on the first floor of the shelter, was rescued during the wildfire in Uljin, Gyeongbuk three years ago. Tied with a leash, she could not run away, but fortunately survived. However, the dog tied just one meter away was unable to escape the flames. When volunteers arrived, the charred body was lying next to Danbi.

Danbi, who once could not even open her eyes due to burns, has now regained her smile. She has become healthy enough to approach even when a stranger calls her name. Only the black disc-shaped mark on her left eye hints at the damage caused by the wildfire.

Adopt, Don't Buy from Factories

Danbi met at Kara The Bom Center in Paju, Gyeonggi Province on the 16th. Although there is a disc-shaped burn mark on the left eye, Danbi has regained a smile. Photo by Song Seungseop

Every year, animals are rescued from disasters and calamities, but the vicious cycle of them being left with nowhere to go continues. Experts point out that this is not a problem that can be solved simply by spending money or changing a single policy. Kim Younghwan, head of policy at Kara and a professor in the Department of Culture and Contents at Soongsil University Graduate School, said, "In Korea, it is easy to buy animals with money, and the penalties for abandoning animals are relatively low." He added, "We need to activate identification chips, restrict animal breeding businesses, and change the culture so that adoption becomes commonplace."