Helping a Stray

You're a true life saver if you've brought home a stray cat or dog, preventing harm by car accident, starvation, pregnancy, and other miseries. Before creating an adoption listing on ARK for an animal you have found on the street, please first make a concerted effort to try to locate the owner. The Korean phrases below will help you in your search.

What to do When You Find a Stray

1. Check for ID

   Even if there is no ID tag, there may be a microchip or tattoo. Most vet clinics have microchip readers or can recommend a clinic that does.

2. Ask Around the Neighbourhood

   Bring the animal (or a photo) to vet clinics, pet supply shops, grooming shops, neighbours, neighbourhood stores, apartment security guards, etc. to see if anyone recognizes the found animal and knows where s/he belongs. Look for "lost pet" posters her owners may have posted around. Remember that animals can run quite far from where they were originally lost, so check as wide an area as you can.

3. Make Posters

   Put lots of copies of posters up all around the area where you found him/her as soon as possible. Include the contact information of a Korean friend if you are not able to speak Korean.

4. Search Lost and Found Sites

   The website 'Lost and Found Animals in Korea' (동물보호센터) has listings from all across the country, but only in Korean: www.angel.or.kr.

5. Contact Your Local District Office

   Report the animal to your local Gu / 구 office. Each municipality has one or more animal control centers responsible for handling stray animals. Go to your city's website to find the contact information or ask a Korean friend to help.

6. Contact Local Korean Animal Rescue Groups

   Inform local private shelters and animal rescue centres (동물보호소) and request they post the animal on their websites and send notices to their members. Writing in Korean would be most effective, so ask a Korean friend to help with initial and follow up correspondence. The Lost and Found Animals in Korea website's network section collects dozens of Korean animal websites by location.

Can't Keep a Stray in Your House?

If your landlord does not permit pets, or if you have no way of separating your own companion from a stray in your home until the stray has a clean bill of health, here's what you can do:

• Find a temporary foster home (make a blog post here or post on ARK's Facebook page)
• Pay for boarding at a vet clinic or 'pet hotel'
• Find a no-kill shelter

Korean Phrases for Asking About a Stray Cat or Dog

Thanks to Nicole Smith and friend for providing Korean translations of some helpful phrases! (PDF version below)

pet = 애완견
lost = 잃어버린
abandoned animal = 유기 동물 stray dog = 떠돌이 개
stray cat = 떠돌이 고양이

I found this lost (cat / dog) on the street.
나는 거리에서 이 길 잃은 (고양이 / 개)를 발견했습니다.

Does this dog have a microchip?
이 개는 마이크로칩을 가지고 있습니까?

Does this (cat / dog) have a home?
이 (고양이 / 개)는 집이 있습니까?

Do you know where the owner lives?
당신은 주인이 사는 곳을 아시나요?

Can you notify the owners of this (cat / dog)?
당신은 이 (고양이 / 개)의 주인과 연락하실 수 있나요?

Can you notify local animal control about this (cat / dog)?
당신은 이 (고양이 / 개)를 담당하는 지역 동물 센터에 연락하실 수 있나요?

Can you notify local rescue groups about this (cat / dog)?
당신은 이 (고양이 / 개)를 담당하는 지역의 구조 단체에 연락하실 수 있나요?

May I post this (for adoption / lost animal) flyer in your business?
내가 이 (입양 / 잃어버린 동물) 전단지를 게시해도 될까요?