A wildfire in the Yeongnam region has been ongoing for six days since the 21st, with incidents occurring where pet dogs are left tied up and unable to evacuate.
On the 26th, the animal protection organization 'WEACT' has been conducting rescue operations for animals in the Gyeongbuk area, where the wildfire broke out on the 23rd.
WEACT noted, “We started searching from the point of the wildfire and went to nearby shelters to check with residents if there were any animals that had not been able to evacuate.” Videos capturing the rescue scene showed dogs left alone with their leashes tied in empty warehouses and rubber bins.
WEACT stated, “The path was already blocked by fallen trees, and sparks were flying as the power lines on the utility poles halfway up the mountain burned.” They added, “We covered the dogs while running madly down, not being able to breathe, as rubber melted and dropped under the flames.”
When a large wildfire occurs, there are often incidents where pets are injured or killed because their leashes could not be undone in time. It is better to evacuate with animals when a wildfire occurs, but in an emergency situation, at the very least, leashes on animals or doors to our enclosures should be left open to minimize harm to the animals.
However, during disasters, shelters typically do not allow pets, leaving residents who have lost their homes with no proper place to evacuate with their pets.
During the wildfire in Gangwon's Gangneung in 2023, it was reported that firefighters untied leashes of pets that had lost their owners during the urgent extinguishing operations, preventing significant harm to the pets.
Dogs rescued from the wildfire site are showing symptoms of oxygen deficiency and are being transported to hospitals for treatment. WEACT stated, “It is truly bitter that pets cannot accompany their owners during emergency evacuations.”
Since 2022, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs has been promoting the designation of 'companion shelters' that allow pets and their owners to evacuate together, but this project has reportedly been effectively suspended.