As destructive wildfires sweep through the country's southeastern regions, animals left behind during evacuations have either been killed or suffered injuries, according to animal protection organization Weact on Wednesday.
Weact discovered a dog huddled inside a shed near a home devastated by the fire in Sancheong-gun, about 250 kilometers southeast of Seoul, on Tuesday afternoon.
The dog, which had deep wounds around its neck, was taken to a nearby animal hospital.
"The dog was trembling in fear, and its metal leash was scorched by the fire, with some parts crumbling," a Weact official said.
The dog's owner reportedly contacted the animal group to rescue the dog as he had been unable to remove the dog's leash while urgently evacuating the village.
Another dog rescued by the group in the same neighborhood was crying while tied to a leash next to a power line that had melted, with sparks crackling from it. The organization is currently searching for its owner.
Since emergency shelters usually do not permit pets, residents who have lost their homes in fires often have no choice but to leave their animals behind, as they have nowhere to bring them.
"During fires, many animals that are tied up or confined to places like barns fail to escape in time and end up dying. We urge pet owners to cut the leash and evacuate, even in emergency situations," the official said.
As the wildfires have spread, local animal groups have been joining forces to rescue operations for domesticated animals.
Lucy's Friends, a coalition of 20 animal rights groups, has rescued a total of 24 animals, including dogs, cats and goats tied up or abandoned at homes and farms, since Sunday in Uiseong-gun, North Gyeongsang Province. With more than 12,500 hectares burned, the wildfires in Uiseong have forced nearly 4,000 people in the county to evacuate and left 92 private and public facilities damaged.
cjh@heraldcorp.com
