[Anchor] Our final story today is a heartwarming one.
[Reporter] Yes, last month, participants in a cross-country march heading from Gongju, South Chungcheong Province, toward Haenam encountered a stray dog with matted fur.
The dog began following the group as they set out on their journey.
They initially thought it would stop following them after a while, but the dog walked with them for about 20km without rest, cooling itself off in rice paddies whenever it became exhausted from the heat.
At intersections, it waited until the people arrived, and it never left their side even while the group took breaks.
Local villagers shared that it was a dog someone had abandoned a month ago.
The participants finally understood why the dog had been so desperate to follow them, and they eventually requested help from the 119 emergency service.
The dog was moved to the Gongju Animal Shelter and was given the name Gongju, meaning it was met in Gongju. However, it faced the possibility of euthanasia once the protection notice period expired.
When this story spread online, requests to save Gongju poured in, and the dog was eventually able to safely leave the shelter with the help of a private rescuer.
Gongju is currently waiting for a new family to spend the rest of its life with.
(Source: Instagram @lucky.over_s2)
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