Rooftop Floors Hit 60°C Amid Heatwave, Leaving Pets Stranded

Are more companion animals being abandoned or neglected in this kind of weather?

Last month, about 7,700 abandoned and lost animals were rescued nationwide.

Among them, about 95 percent are still under protection, while only 3.1 percent have been returned to their owners.

Particularly from the 3rd to the 7th of this month, when heatwave warnings continued, between 190 and 295 animals were rescued per day, more than double the usual daily average.

In fact, on the 1st, a woman in her 30s was booked by police after tying her dog to a playground pillar in Cheongju and leaving a note implying the dog was abandoned.

At the time, the daytime high in Cheongju reached 36°C (97°F).

Companion animals have a lower body temperature regulation ability than humans, making them especially vulnerable to extreme heat.

One animal protection group rescued 18 dogs left unattended in a pet shop lacking proper air conditioning, and a report was also filed in Gwanak-gu, Seoul, about a dog left neglected on a building rooftop where floor temperatures reached 50 to 60°C (122 to 140°F).

Another rescue group saved a Retriever that had been trapped inside a vehicle for four days amid the scorching heat.

Experts emphasized that as cases of abandoning pets or leaving them unattended in empty homes due to vacation care issues may increase, education and institutional management must be strengthened from the initial pet-raising stage so owners take responsibility until the end.

(Photo Source: Instagram @weact_dogs, Angel Project)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.