Abandoned Pup Becomes South Korea’s First Honorary Rescue Dog After Saving Elderly Woman
A 4-year-old dog named Baekgu has just been appointed South Korea’s first-ever honorary rescue dog after saving the life of his missing elderly owner.
Baekgu’s owner, a 90-year-old woman suffering from dementia, was reported missing after she fell unconscious in a field. The woman lives in South Korea’s Hongseong county and was missing for 40 hours until she was found in the middle of a rice field, about two kilometers, or 1.3 miles, from her home.
She had fallen in a wet area where the rice was tall and full, keeping her hidden from search crews. Just before she was found, the weather was getting worse and nighttime was bringing cold air. Baekgu was with the woman and kept her body temperature up, even as she began to slip into hypothermia.
The search crew sent out a thermal drone, which detected the woman and her life-saving pup. The woman is now recovering in the hospital, and authorities credit Baekgu with saving her life.
The National Fire Agency introduced regulation last year that would allow for honorary firefighters, fire ambassadors and rescue dogs. Baekgu just became the country’s first-ever official rescue dog.
“At a difficult time due to Covid-19, Baekgu created an unbelievable miracle and moved everyone,” said Gov. Yang Seung-jo.
“Baekgu was an abandoned dog and became part of our family when we saved him from attacks by another dog three years ago,” the woman’s daughter said, according to The Korea Times. “I am really thankful; it seems he returned our favor.”
Image source: CNN
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