'They served the nation — don't abandon them at retirement,' advocates say

Calls are growing for legislation to guarantee post-retirement care for animals that have spent their lives serving the state.

Machimp, a nonprofit organization, said Friday it held a National Assembly policy forum on Wednesday at the National Assembly Members' Hall to promote legislation and build a support ecosystem for service animals.

The forum was co-hosted by 15 ruling and opposition lawmakers — including Cho Seung-hwan, Park Deok-heum, Lee Heon-seung, Han Jeong-ae, Jin Seon-mi, Seong Il-jong, Kang Seung-gyu, Kim Seon-gyo, Kim Ye-ji, Park Soo-young, Seo Yeong-seok, Lee Seong-gwon, Ko Min-jeong, Jeon Yong-gi and Kim Yong-tae — and organized by Machimp. The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, the Ministry of National Defense, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the Korean National Police Agency, the Korea Customs Service, the National Fire Agency, the Korean Veterinary Medical Association and the Animal Welfare National Assembly Forum also sponsored the event.

The forum took place amid progress on an amendment to the Animal Protection Act that would legally guarantee post-retirement treatment for national service animals. The bill has cleared the National Assembly's Agriculture, Food, Rural Affairs, Oceans and Fisheries Committee and awaits review by the Legislation and Judiciary Committee before a full plenary vote. The government is also preparing to establish an animal welfare policy bureau within the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, along with a budget for adoption support and a dedicated support center for retired service animals.

Even if the amendment passes, support will not begin immediately. Under the bill's supplementary provisions, it takes effect one year after promulgation — meaning that even if it clears the Assembly this year, it would not come into force until late 2027. Until then, a gap remains in the system for supporting retired service animals after they leave duty.

About 1,106 national service dogs are currently on active duty, and roughly 150 retire each year. As of 2024, only about 22 percent find new homes, while the remaining 78 percent are transferred to institutional shelters or die under unexplained circumstances.

At Wednesday's forum, veterinary teaching hospitals affiliated with the National Council of University Animal Hospital Directors agreed to cover medical costs for adopted retired service animals. The Gyeonggi Province Veterinary Medical Association is also preparing to bring additional regional animal hospitals on board, expanding the medical support network beyond university hospitals to local clinics. Harim Pet Food, Interpet Korea and Raham pledged to provide feed and supplies.

Lee Young, chair of Machimp, said that animals whose every record is meticulously managed while they carry out national duties are "pushed outside the boundaries of care the moment they retire." She vowed to "pool all efforts to the end so that legislation is completed within this year, through the Legislation and Judiciary Committee review and the plenary session." She added that the organization also plans to establish an integrated management center covering medical care, adoption, rehabilitation and aftercare for national service animals.

Meanwhile, Machimp is a nonprofit that pursues a range of public-interest projects focused on social safety nets, including respect for life and support for youth aging out of the care system. Last year, it held a National Assembly policy forum to improve conditions for "service animals" — including military dogs, police dogs, detection dogs and search-and-rescue dogs — and to strengthen post-retirement support systems, among other activities.