David Lee and Baekho

There is a transient nature to expat life, which is a prime concern for those expats who are interested in raising pets while living in Korea. Still, pet ownership in Korea is on the rise, with one in every five households now raising a pet, and the rate of foreigner pet ownership 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 like a daunting myriad of information to find the right place to purchase or adopt a pet, to find an English-speaking veterinarian, to find places to train or board your pet, to know where to purchase quality pet supplies, to find good places to take your dog for exercise and socialization, and of course, to find where to purchase the newest pet fashions that are all the rage in Korea. For those of you who have pets but still struggle to find the right resources, or for those of you who are contemplating pet ownership, a look at some of the FAQs and resources available for your pet may help you decide whether or not you can be a responsible pet owner during your stay in Korea.

Adopting or 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 you help you with that process and services are available in English for your convenience. The first is the Korean Animal Protection Society (KAPS) 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 the rescued animals, volunteer opportunities are also available. For more info, you can check their website http://www.koreananimals.or.kr/english/.

The other resource is the Animal Rescue Korea (ARK), which isn’t a rescue center itself, but rather an online resource in English where you can find adoptable animals http://www.animalrescuekorea.org/.  They also have volunteer opportunities; the group usually volunteers every Saturday at a shelter called Jane’s Grandpa in Asan, in South Chungcheong. 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 (충무로역 Line 3 or 4), ㅛou can find “Chungmuro pet street,” which is sometimes referred to instead by the street name Toegyero (퇴계로) pet street, by heading out of exit 1 of the Chungmuro station. 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 and clinics

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 9am to 8pm, the clinic offers basically all 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 a Free Adoption Project to help arrange adoptions of abandoned and rescued dogs. Their website (English), can give you more information about their services http://www.cwhospital.com/eng.htm 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 the Haebangchon or Kyeonglidan (Korea Army Central Finance Accounting Center), a new clinic, Ra-on Animal Hospital, has recently opened on the Kyeonglidan side of the street. Although modest about her English skills, the vet speaks English with a fairly well and is energetic and attentive to her customers (furry or otherwise). Although new, the clinic is already bustling with 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 for a visit. The clinic is located straight up the road from Kyeonglidan, 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 9am -10pm for your convenience. After 10:30pm, they have night time emergency services. Grooming services are also available. The vet, who also goes by James has excellent English and loves animals; he runs a weekly Adoption Day program on Saturdays from 10am -5pm. 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 http://www.dr-pet.co.kr/intro/map.php or call (02) 3443 -8275.

Another great clinic, for pet owners south of the Han River, is the Chee-ro Mung-Mung clinic in Sinsa-dong. The clinic is open 24 hours / 7 days a week in the event of an emergency. They offer many of the same services available at the Chung Wha Animal Clinic. Their website http://www.7500clinic.com/ currently offers information only in Korean or you can call their offices 02 545 0075 to get more information. The closest stations are Sinsa Station, line 3 or Hakdong Station line 7.

Here’s a vet recommended by one of our very own SGC volunteers, Anke Starratt:

Mari Animal Hospital
D.V.M.
Dr. Jong-II Choi
Phone: 02-323-7582
Fax: 02-3143-7582
 
E-mail: jongilori@hanmail.net
Blog: http://blog.naver.com/jongilori
174-20, Dongyo-dong Mapo-gu, Seoul, Korea
 Special service for Pet’s overseas travel

For those in Incheon, here’s a vet who comes highly recommended by a reader.

Dr. Hundong Kim
Seoul Total Care Veterinary Hospital
2-364 (2nd Floor) Kalsan Dong, Bupyeong Gu, Incheon
Tel. No. 032-508-7571
Email Address: hundong@hotmail.com

If neither of these clinics suits your fancy, or you’re looking for something closer to your home, there is also a composite list of English speaking vets on the ARK website http://animalrightskorea.org/companions/recommended-vets.html.

Finding pet supplies

As mentioned earlier, “Chungmuro pet street” has a cluster of pet supply shops that should stock most of your pet needs. 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. However, most of the pet store websites that operate in Korea do not offer English on their websites, 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.

Happy, a Jindo dog, at training camp

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 miles 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 on 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) http://hotel.dogtel.co.kr/

If dog hotels or boarding facilities aren’t your thing but you don’t have any friends who are willing to watch over your beloved pet, visiting the ARK website is a helpful way to find a pet sitter. You can post your requests at their pet sitter forum: http://www.animalrescuekorea.org/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=17

Trendy pet cafes

One popular place doubles as a dog café and a pet boarding hotel. BauHaus Dog Café, 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 café portion of the business operates between 1:30pm-11:30PM. 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 or check their website (Korean only) http://club.cyworld.com/club/main/club_main.asp?club_id=50239076.

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 café, 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 café 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 café 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. The SNU location is near Seoul National University Station, exit 4. The Hondae 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 Café has recently opened in Ilsan. Cat Café is closest to Wondang Station, Line 3 (go out exit 3 and walk about 200m). More info is available at http://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’ll 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 our hotline, at 1688-0120.

Shannon Heit   shannon.sgc@gmail.com

Tags: Daily living logistics, Pets
Posted in Living in Seoul, Pets