Caring for your pets

A prime concern for expats interested in raising pets while living in Korea is the transient nature many are accustomed to: a vacation in Thailand in December, a trans-Siberian train journey in August. Others have difficulties communicating with veterinarians, finding supplies, puppy schools or even "pet hotels." But all of those things exist in great abundance around the country -- even pet cafes, which are becoming something of a hit.

Pet ownership is on the rise, with one in five households now raising a pet, and the rate of non-Korean pet ownership here is following suit. Korea`s pet culture is relatively new and even for those interested in having a pet, as an expat it can seem a daunting task to find the information you need.

For those of you who have pets, but still struggle to find the right resources, or if you are contemplating pet ownership, we have compiled a list of resources to make life a little easier for you (and more comfortable for your pet).



Purchasing a pet



When trying to find the right pet, you have a few options. The first is to adopt a pet that has been rescued. There are two great organizations here that can help you with that process and services are available in English. The first is the Korean Animal Protection Society, which offers English services for people who are interested in adopting a pet.

For those of you who aren`t ready to make the great leap yet, you can also sponsor an animal for a minimum donation of $10 per month. If you just want to lend a helping hand and spend time with rescued animals, volunteer opportunities are also available. For more info, you can check their website www.koreananimals.or.kr

The other resource is the Animal Rescue Korea, which isn`t a rescue center itself, but rather an online resource in English where you can find adoptable animals www.animalrescuekorea.org

They also have volunteer opportunities; the group usually volunteers every Saturday at a shelter called Jane`s Grandpa in Asan, South Chungcheong Province. The robust site also lists extensive information for other logistical issues like vets, pet shops, and pet travel.

The other option is to purchase a pet directly. If that`s your intention, there is an area of Seoul which is well-known for its sheer number of pet shops, located near Chungmuro Station (Subway Line 3 or 4). You can find "Chungmuro pet street," which is sometimes referred to instead by the street name Toegyero pet street, by heading out of Exit 1. In the street between Toegyero 4-ga and Toegyero 5-ga there is a strip of over 20 pet shops, pet supply stores, and veterinarian offices. Veterinarian clinics also often offer pet adoption services.



English-speaking veterinarians



Of course finding trustworthy medical care (in a language that you can understand with confidence) for your pet is an extremely important concern among expat pet owners. Probably one of the most popular English speaking vet clinics is Chung Wha Animal Hospital, located in Itaewon. Operating Monday-Saturday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., the clinic offers most services that you`d ever need for your pet including general medical care, emergency care, alternative medicine, pet grooming, and pet boarding.

They even offer services to help you navigate, from start to finish, the complexities of transporting your dog overseas. The hospital has also started the Free Adoption Project to help arrange adoptions of abandoned and rescued dogs. Their website (in English), can give you more information about their services www.cwhospital.com or you can call (02) 792-7602. Their bright blue, hard-to-miss clinic is located at 21-1 Itaewon-dong Yongsan-gu Seoul (across from the Chung Wha Apartment Complex), which is about a five to ten minute walk from Itaewon Station, line 6.

For those of you living in Haebangchon or Gyeongnidan (Korea Army Central Finance Accounting Center), a new clinic, Ra-on Animal Hospital, has recently opened on the Gyeongnidan side of the street. The vet speaks English with a fair amount of fluency and is energetic and attentive to her customers (furry or otherwise). Although new, the clinic already has a high number of customers, both foreign and Korean. The clinic also has boarding facilities, grooming, and adoption services available. The website is currently under construction, but for more information contact them by phone at (02) 792-7585 or stop by. The clinic is located straight up the road from Gyeongnidan, in the intersection near the Family Mart, Paris Baguette, and Kimbab Chunguk.

South of the river in Gangnam, you`ll find Dr. Pet Animal Medical Center, run by Dr. Choi. A short walk from Gangnam-gu Office station (Line 7, Exit 1), the clinic operates from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. After 10:30 p.m., they have night time emergency services. Grooming services are also available. The vet, who also goes by James, speaks excellent English and loves animals; he runs a weekly Adoption Day program on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

As his own contribution to the project, Dr. Choi rehabilitates injured or sick rescued pets for free before he sets them up for adoption. The clinic can also help you immigrate your pet if you`re planning on taking your pet back to your own country. For more information, visit their website www.dr-pet.co.kr or call (02) 3443 -8275.

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Finding pet supplies



Chungmuro Pet Street has a cluster of pet supply shops that should keep you well-stocked with pet supplies. However, if you`re looking for a particular toy or training device, especially one made by a foreign company, the stores are usually able to order them for you (it may help to bring a picture and the name of the specific product that you`re looking for). Vet clinics can also be a good resource for high quality kibble and dog treats. For specific pet needs, or to find the cheapest price available, internet pet shops are also an option.

But most of the pet store websites that operate in Korea do not have English sections, so enlisting a Korean friend who can navigate is always helpful. These sites are abundant so a simple Naver search will do the trick when you`re looking for one. For basic pet supplies, Emart or other large supermarkets usually have a row or two dedicated to pet needs and nowadays even most small, local grocery stores also stock necessities.



Training and boarding facilities



Probably the most popular "doggie kindergarten" is Puppy School. Located near Yeoksam Station, Exit 7, in the Gangnam area, the school offers both a day program for training and a boarding facility where they can board your pet for up to three months. The dogs are fed high-quality organic kibble, get extra training, listen to music, nap, and get walked and groomed while they are there.

Different from some other boarding hotels, the dogs have their own private "room" rather than being boarded in a cage. The rates vary depending on the size of your dog, but generally range from 15,000-25,000 won per day. You can contact Puppy School directly for more information. Phone (02) 554-2010 (Korean, English, Spanish) or e-mail at infocorea@hanmail.net

For those owners who tend to miss their pets terribly when they`re away, Dogtel offers a unique internet camera service, which allows you to monitor your pet from thousands of kilometers away. Real-time CCTV captures your pet in their every waking (and non-waking) moment, giving you the opportunity to peek in on them whenever you`re missing them.



Prices range from 20,000-50,000 per night depending on provided amenities, but each dog is given their own private room.

The cheapest rooms don`t offer CCTV services. The hotel is located closest to Meokgol Station, Line 7, (go out Exit 5 and walk about 4 minutes) or Junghwa Station, also on Line 7 (go out Exit 4 and walk about 6 minutes). To make reservations by phone, call (02) 978-8945 or check their website (Korean only) at

http://hotel.dogtel.co.kr



Trendy pet cafes



One popular place doubles as a dog cafe and a pet boarding hotel. BauHaus Dog Cafe, located in Hongdae near Hapjeong, Exit 3, is a place where you can enjoy a cup of coffee while playing with one of the fifteen or so dogs who live there permanently. You can also bring your own dog to get in on the action.

The cafe portion of the business operates between 1:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. Reservations should be made in advance for pet boarding; fees are approximately 12,000 won per night. For more information, you can contact them by phone (02) 334-5152.

Not to leave the cat-lovers out, cat cafes have recently been opening up all over the city.

Gio Cat, comparable to the aforementioned dog cafe, has over thirty furry friends keeping customers company. Vastly different from the dog cafes is the noise level and rules. While BauHaus is a boisterous, sometimes chaotic experience, Gio Cat is calm, quiet, and strictly regulated. Rules are posted all over the cafe reminding customers not to carry the cats or bother them unnecessarily. The owner, Yu Sang-wook, says he is a true cat lover and understands that cats hate to be forced to do something they don`t want to, hence the rules.

Located near Seoul National University, Yu originally started the cafe as a way to give prospective cat adopters a way to make a more informed decision on raising cats, in order to avoid more deserted animals. The popularity of the place led to the opening of another location in Hongdae. It is near Seoul National University Station, Exit 4.

The Hongdae location is situated across from the park/playground area, near the main gate of Hongik University, in the alley beside the Smoothie King. Admission is 8,000 won and includes a drink. For more information, check the website http://giocat.com (Korean only). For those north of the city, Cat Cafe has recently opened in Ilsan. Cat Cafe is closest to Wondang Station, Line 3 (go out Exit 3 and walk about 200m). More info is available at www.catcafe.co.kr (Korean only) or by phone (031) 966-2295.

The resources above should help you get started with all of your basic pet needs. In the next article, we will examine more pet questions pertaining to pet-friendly parks, laws in Korea that pet owners should be aware of, traveling with your pet in Korea, and pet immigration procedures. For more information about any of the resources covered in this article, please visit their websites. For general logistics of life in Korea, check out the Seoul Global Center`s website at http://global.seoul.go.kr, or call the hotline, at 1688-0120.

(shannon.sgc@gmail.com)





By Shannon Heit