'Seoul Companion Dog Patrol' Expanded to 9 Districts Including Gangdong, Seocho, and Geumcheon

Among 663 Applications Received, 248 Patrol Teams Selected After Rigorous Screening
Specialized Patrol Activities by Districts Promote Crime Prevention and Support for Vulnerable Groups in the Community

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] The Seoul Metropolitan Autonomous Police Committee announced on the 6th that the 'Seoul Companion Dog Patrol' has been expanded to cover nine autonomous districts across Seoul (Gangdong, Seocho, Songpa, Geumcheon, Gangseo, Mapo, Seodaemun, Dongdaemun, Seongdong) and began patrol activities on the 4th.

A total of 663 teams applied from the nine districts for the expanded operation. To prevent safety incidents such as dog bites, strict screening criteria were applied, including walking with the dog owner, command execution ability, and response to external stimuli, resulting in the selection of 248 elite patrol teams.

The patrol teams include diverse groups such as the 'Like' team, whose dog owner overcame communication fears due to hearing impairment by walking with their dog, and the 'Sasha and Heaven' team, who participated after completing guide dog training for the visually impaired, playing a role as community safety guardians.

Some patrol members who have started activities continue to share their experiences through online communities. In particular, the 'Choco' team of Gangseo District Companion Dog Patrol, launched on August 27, played a significant role in crime prevention by discovering a lost dog without a leash alone in an apartment complex during patrol and returning it home after inquiries.

The newly launched 'Seoul Companion Dog Patrol' will conduct specialized patrol activities tailored to the circumstances of each district through collaboration among residents, district offices, police stations, and the Autonomous Police Committee (civil, public, police, and committee).

Professor Lee Sang-hoon of the Department of Police Science at Daejeon University evaluated, "The Seoul Companion Dog Patrol is an organization where local residents voluntarily participate, fostering a sense of neighborhood self-policing and natural communication among neighbors," adding, "It provides a dual benefit by giving public value to citizens' routine walking activities and enhancing satisfaction."

Kim Hak-bae, Chairman of the Seoul Metropolitan Autonomous Police Committee, stated, "In addition to operating the Seoul Companion Dog Patrol, we will continuously develop and promote autonomous police policies that provide customized security services tailored to residents' needs through the linkage of local administration and security administration, doing our best to ensure citizens feel comfortable and Seoul remains safe."

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