Shelter dogs get their close-up — and a shot at adoption

Photographs of shelter dogs at an animal protection center will be put to work finding them new homes. Rather than limiting their efforts to cleaning facilities and walking dogs, the government and a private volunteer group are photographing the animals, displaying the images publicly and connecting potential adopters with on-site consultations.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs said it held a joint volunteer event Wednesday with the Blue Angel volunteer group at Banryeo Maru, an animal protection center in Yeoju, Gyeonggi Province, to mark the second Animal Protection Day.

Blue Angel is a stray animal volunteer group operated by Natural Balance Korea. Celebrities, veterinarians and animal behavior trainers take part in its activities, which focus on caring for shelter animals and promoting a culture of adoption.

About 50 people participated in the event, including Director General Kim Jeong-uk of the ministry's Agricultural Industry Innovation Policy Bureau, along with other ministry staff and volunteers. They cleaned the shelter facilities, walked the dogs and tended to the animals living at the center.

The volunteer work is also designed to lead to adoptions. Photos of shelter dogs taken at the event will be displayed at the second Animal Protection Day pop-up store in Seongsu-dong, Seoul, from Oct. 2 to Oct. 5. The ministry plans to let visitors get acquainted with the dogs through the photos and use them to facilitate on-site adoption consultations.

The ministry also presented a certificate of appreciation to Blue Angel, which has carried out stray animal volunteer work since 2013. The group operates on the philosophy that "benefits gained through animals must be returned to animals."

"We hope this volunteer activity will raise public awareness of shelter animals and serve as an opportunity to practice the values of welcoming new family members through adoption and respecting life," Kim said.