Imsil-gun, Popular Pet Dog Leo Playing Soccer on SNS

Published 09 Dec.2021 15:17(KST)

[Imsil=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Park Nosik] A companion dog boasting outstanding soccer skills has appeared on ImsilEnTV, the SNS channel of Imsil-gun, Jeonbuk, attracting attention.

The county recently announced on the 9th that it posted a video of a COVID-19 overcoming support event with the companion dog Leo on ImsilEnTV, Facebook, and Instagram.

The main character of the video, the companion dog Leo, is gaining popularity, even earning the nickname "Leonel Messi."

Leo is a companion dog raised by Shin Hyun-hwak, an employee of the Agriculture and Livestock Division of Imsil County Office.

In the video, Mr. Shin said, "It was the rainy season with heavy rain, and I first met Leo in a place where people could not enter. At first, I took him to a shelter, but my heart hurt so much that I brought him back and raised him."

He added, "Originally, I was preparing to become a police officer and even passed the written exam, but while raising Leo, I became more interested in abandoned dogs and chose to become a livestock public official."

He emphasized, "Regarding the choice of Imsil County Office, I thought the county was well known for Osu Uigyeon Tourist Site and was a local government with a special interest in companion animals and abandoned dogs, so I chose it."

The video revealing this story and Leo's soccer skills has recorded high views through ImsilEnTV and SNS channels, continuing to receive a hot response.

Currently, the video views have exceeded 55,000, and the number of comments is 575, showing a passionate response.

In particular, the COVID-19 overcoming event is combined with Leo's video, leading to a relay of subscriptions and comments.

Comments include supportive messages such as "Leo, may your past wounds heal, and Oreo, let's be together," "I'm glad to see the expression of Leo, who was an abandoned dog, brighten," and "I also want to help abandoned dogs."

The county expects that the companion dog Leo video will be effective in raising awareness about abandoned dogs and widely promoting the image of Imsil-gun, which loves companion animals.

Next year, they plan to develop many contents that give emotional impact symbolizing Imsil-gun like "Leo" and upload them on SNS channels such as ImsilEnTV.

County Governor Shim Min said, "I felt a lot from Leo's appearance, who became a companion dog from an abandoned dog and is living happily," and added, "We will focus more on promoting differentiated policies to refine and develop the county's companion animal policies."