‘Lucky’, a thirteen-year-old Yorkshire Terrier who had stayed at the Cheongju Companion Animal Protection Center in North Chungcheong Province for more than three months, had teeth so poor that he could not properly chew dry food. He waited for a new owner, but no one stepped up to adopt an old, sick dog.

After months of waiting, a miracle came to Lucky. He endured tooth-extraction surgery and, after a period of ‘temporary foster care’, met a new family. He is now living a more energetic second act than ever.

The fourteen-year-old mixed-breed ‘Badugi’ also found a new owner at the center. With tumors spread throughout his organs, making even surgery impossible, Badugi had curled up on the shelter floor, waiting only for euthanasia.

The person who took Badugi in is a volunteer, Mr. Kim (38). He said, “I wanted to avoid euthanasia and have him in a more comfortable environment even for just one more day,” and added, “If it were not for the center, Badugi would have left this world long ago.”

The Cheongju Companion Animal Protection Center is serving as a ‘stepping stone’ guiding abandoned animals to new lives.

According to Cheongju City on the 24th, the center located in Gangnae-myeon, Heungdeok-gu began operations in 2016 and switched to direct management in 2019.

After the switch to direct operation, it also established an animal hospital with a resident veterinarian. Veterinarian Jeong Dong-bok, who works at the center, said, “In shelters where infectious diseases are not controlled, companion animal mortality can soar to 30~40%, but in Cheongju it stays within 10%,” and added, “The first step to reducing euthanasia is to keep animals healthy in the shelter so they can hold on and wait for adoption opportunities.”

After conversion to direct operation, a full-time veterinarian on site
Facilities that can accommodate a total of 260 animals
Mortality only 10% through individualized kennel management
80% of sheltered animals returned or adopted

In November last year, the city invested 8.5 billion won to build a new center building with a total floor area of 6,620㎡. Compared with the previous building, it increased the number of animals that can be protected by more than 100, for a total capacity of 260. It also has a cat-only room, an adoption waiting room, and an education room. About 90 individual kennels are connected to exercise yards to minimize stress for rescued dogs.

To resolve euthanasia caused by saturated shelter space, the center has also been operating a ‘temporary foster program for stray animals’ since last year. Under the program, prospective adopters live with a companion animal for 1~3 months and then decide whether to adopt.

Choi Seung-woo, an administrative officer at the Cheongju Companion Animal Protection Center, explained, “Most citizens who use the temporary foster system are households raising a companion animal for the first time,” and said, “It is very helpful for experiencing life with a pet and making a careful adoption decision.” As the center seeks to minimize euthanasia, some animals are cared for there for at least six months to more than two years.

According to the city, of 150 animals that entered temporary foster last year, 128 were formally adopted. In city results for handling stray animals, over the most recent four months (October 2025 to January 2026), 254 of the 300 animals rescued, or 84.6%, either found new lives or were returned to their owners. Of these, placements (adoptions) were the largest at 148 (49.3%), followed by returns at 61 (20.3%) and donations at 45 (15.0%). Euthanasia was 31 (10.3%), and deaths were 15 (5.0%), which is relatively low.

Choi said, “Despite the high adoption rate, the biggest concern is that about 90% of the animals that are euthanized are large dogs,” adding, “Because the housing environment is largely apartment-centered, it is regrettable that large dogs are always pushed down the adoption priority list.” An official from Cheongju City said, “We plan to strengthen outreach about the center so that citizens can encounter stray animals more familiarly,” and continued, “Aiming for zero euthanasia, we will do our best to move beyond simple protection and establish a culture in which people and animals coexist.”