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| Four-year-old Doberman mix Chappssal and his owner Lim Borah, members of "Seoul Puppy Patrol," walk around Seongnae-dong in Gangdong District, Tuesday. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul |
Volunteers living with companion dogs use daily walks to give back to community
By Lee Yeon-woo
Chappssal, a four-year-old Dobermann mix, is living a dog's dream life as the busiest puppy in southeastern Seoul's Gangdong District. He goes for walks more than four times a day ― after he wakes up, after breakfast, before his human mom goes to the office, before he goes to bed and many more if time allows.
What makes Chappssal's walks different than others is that this pooch is on a mission as he ambles down the sidewalk.
As a member of the Seoul Puppy Patrol, he sniffs out trouble on the road and helps make the neighborhood a safer and cleaner place, while never missing a beat wagging his tail.
With "Seoul Puppy Patrol" written on his orange vest and his name on the leash, Gangdong residents recognize Chappssal wherever he goes.
"People find it easy to start a conversation and ask for help because I'm with a puppy," Lim Borah, a member of the patrol and the owner of Chappssal, told The Korea Times.
Neighbors ask her if they can join the patrol and jokingly ask Chappssal how much he's getting paid for the job.
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| Two-year-old Papillon mix Bodeul, above, and Chappssal below, take a walk together in Seongnae-dong, Gangdong District, Tuesday. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul |
Another puppy patrol member, Bodeul, a two-year-old Papillon mix, is surrounded by curious children when he walks his sister to school. Not only does he keep an eye out for children falling victim to crime, he is also a well-behaved trainer teaching kids how to communicate with dogs, according to Sohn Ga-hyun, another patrol member and the owner of Bodeul.
Seoul Puppy Patrol is a group of 50 puppy owners living in Gangdong District who volunteered to turn their daily walks into watches over the neighborhood. Starting this May, they have been detecting potential dangers, looking out for fellow residents and helping keep the streets literally clean.
Volunteers make a direct report to the nearby police station or use Seoul Talk, an AI-based administrative service to handle problems. A total of 715 reports were sent in May and June, according to inspector Kang Min-joon at the Seoul Metropolitan Autonomous Police Commission.
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| Lim Borah shows her previous reports made via Seoul Talk, an AI-based administrative service, to handle inconveniences affecting Seoul residents in Seongnae-dong, Gangdong District, Tuesday. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul |
Volunteers say they never felt more connected to the area even though they have lived there for years. Unlike police officers who patrol the area in rotations, the residents say they have a deeper knowledge of the region and look after the area with more affection.
Lim, who has lived in Gangdong District since 1994, said she seldom encountered residents in need of help before joining the patrol. However, she remembers one day when she offered help to a man she would have passed by if she had not been one of the patrol members.
"I was walking with Chappssal the other day, and I saw a puppy in poor condition with a man by its side. Normally, I don't say this or that to other people about their dogs. But as a patrol member, I insisted that he take the puppy to the vet. I found out he had a mental disability while talking to him. He told me he thought it would cost a lot of money to bring the puppy to the vet and he didn't know what to do," Lim said.
Lim added that it was Chappssal and the Seoul Puppy Patrol vest that brought the man's guard down. He asked Lim a barrage of questions about the patrol and asked for advice about his puppy. Lim said she came to believe that the patrol could help residents in need.
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| Bodeul looks back at his owner while walking in Seongnae-dong, Gangdong District, Tuesday. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul |
"When you walk with your dog, you only see the road. But when you patrol with your dog, you have to look everywhere, from the street corners to the sky. You find something new in your neighborhood every day," said Sohn, who has lived in Gangdong District for 11 years.
This September, the Seoul Puppy Patrol will be introduced in nine other districts, including Mapo, Seodaemun and Seocho. Hundreds of puppies will go through a pre-test in their socialization skills and patience by Seoul Metropolitan Autonomous Police Commission. And 450 people of any nationality are expected to join the team. New projects, such as accompanying children to school, will be introduced this time.
"So many inconveniences in daily life are ignored because we don't consider them our business. By becoming a member of this patrol, I feel proud to step up and contribute to create a better neighborhood," Sohn said.
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