'Like a Garbage Dump' Puppy Left in Car for a Year Rescued

On the 23rd, a dog was left unattended inside a car in the parking lot of an apartment in Haeundae, Busan. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Park Hee-eun] A puppy left unattended inside a parked car in Haeundae-gu, Busan was rescued by an animal protection organization. The care team that rescued the puppy shared the difficulties they faced during the rescue process and expressed their intention to put the puppy up for adoption in the future.

The animal rights organization Care announced the fact on the 28th through a post on their Facebook account titled "The dog left inside a vehicle in Haeundae, Busan has finally been rescued."

Care explained the situation, saying, "The puppy lived alone inside the car for a whole year, enduring extreme heat and cold, with temperatures inside the car reaching nearly 60 degrees Celsius during midsummer. A security guard, unable to bear it any longer, secretly opened the car door little by little, which helped the puppy avoid death."

Care then detailed the difficulties encountered during the rescue process.

Care stated, "The owner raised the puppy during a mentally difficult time following the death of their mother and was also obsessed with the dog. However, they neglected the puppy’s health care entirely and left it unattended. The car where the puppy was confined resembled a garbage dump."

They also expressed discomfort even after the successful rescue.

Care said, "The abuser must be going through a hard time due to their sense of loss. That is why even after the successful rescue, we did not feel at ease. However, out of compassion for humans, we cannot ignore a small and fragile life. Our society must help the abuser receive counseling and truly become healthy, rather than letting them resolve their loss through another obsession."

They continued, "This morning, the temperature inside the car was 48 degrees Celsius, and it rose above 55 degrees during midday. The reason the puppy survived for a year was thanks to the security guard, but since the car doors can be locked, the puppy could have been in even greater danger. Ultimately, the puppy was forcibly isolated by the activists’ determination," highlighting the severity of the situation.

They also stated that they will protect the rescued puppy for the time being and prepare for adoption once the dog regains its health.

At the end of the post, Care urged, "In the United States, if an animal is left inside a car during summer, people break the window to rescue it. South Korea’s Animal Protection Act should also allow more proactive forced measures in emergency situations."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.