Seoul City Launches Pilot Operation of 'Seoul Companion Dog Patrol'... Patrolling Neighborhoods While Walking with Companion Dogs

Increase in 'Pempetjok' Pet Owners... Community-Participatory Security Policy Combining Dog Walking with Patrols
Residents Report Crimes, Hazards, and Inconveniences Found During Walks with Dogs to 112, 120, etc.

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] The Seoul Metropolitan Autonomous Police Committee announced on the 11th that it will form and pilot operate the "Seoul Companion Dog Patrol." This patrol unit allows residents to freely engage in routine walks with their companion dogs while monitoring potential hazards throughout their neighborhoods and conducting local crime prevention activities.

If they discover crime risk factors or encounter emergency situations, they report to 112 to prompt immediate response. They also report to 120 to request action when they find facility damage or daily inconveniences.

The "Seoul Companion Dog Patrol" is a community-participation policing policy that combines local crime prevention patrol activities with companion dog walking, amid the rise of pet families (Pet+Family), where one in every three households owns a pet. The idea was inspired by Japan’s nationwide "Wanwan Patrol" (わんわんパトロ?ル隊), which began as volunteer activities in the Seijo Police Station jurisdiction of Setagaya Ward, Tokyo, in 2003, and has been adapted to fit Seoul’s characteristics.

The nickname is "Haechi-Petrol." It is named by combining "Haechi," the symbol and guardian of safety for Seoul, with Pet (companion dog) + Patrol, forming "Petrol."

The pilot will be conducted for two months starting in May in Gangdong-gu. The city announced it will recruit 100 companion dog owners residing in Gangdong-gu from the 11th to the 27th. Those who can regularly walk their dogs at least three times a week and actively participate in patrol activities are eligible to join.

Seoul aims to expand the "watchful eyes on the streets" in daily life through residents’ voluntary patrol activities to prevent potential crime factors. Additionally, it is expected to contribute to establishing a proper dog-walking culture through the participation of companion dog owners and their dogs in the "Seoul Companion Dog Patrol."

The city plans to create a community to share and monitor hazards or suggestions discovered during the patrol activities and reflect them in local safety and policing policies. After the pilot operation, the effectiveness of the project will be analyzed through surveys of participants and local residents, with plans to expand the "Seoul Companion Dog Patrol" citywide.

Meanwhile, on the 14th, Seoul will sign a four-party business agreement among the Seoul Metropolitan Autonomous Police Committee, Gangdong-gu, Gangdong Police Station, and the organization "City Without Stray Dogs" to establish a governance system for organic cooperation. Gangdong-gu will assist with patrol recruitment and promotion, 120 reporting actions, providing dog training locations, and monitoring tasks.

Kim Hak-bae, Chairperson of the Seoul Metropolitan Autonomous Police Committee, said, "Community safety is maintained through the interest of local residents," and added, "We ask for the active participation of companion dog owners who love their dogs and wish to volunteer in crime prevention activities. Through a successful pilot operation, we will lay the foundation for forming a community policing culture where local residents actively participate in crime prevention."

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