Exploring Banryeomaru: A Unique Space for Pets and Their Owners
[Reporter Kim Jeong-kyun]
With a little tongue sticking out
And bright eyes looking at me
A creature wagging its tail.
The more love and attention we share with them,
The more strength they gain,
Adding positive energy to our lives.
Many people choose to share their lives with pets for this reason.
However, I used to only observe them online,
Believing that bringing a pet home without responsibility was wrong.
Recently, I visited a special place.
It’s called 'Banryeomaru Yeoju',
A representative cultural space for pets in Gyeonggi-do.
Banryeomaru is a multi-cultural space for pets located in Yeoju, Hwaseong, and Suwon.
This space is designed for both pet owners and non-pet owners to enjoy a happy life together,
Providing pet education, play, and relaxation facilities,
As well as engaging in activities related to the protection and adoption of stray animals.
For those who are familiar with the concept, Banryeomaru may be well-known,
But for others like me, it may be quite unfamiliar.
As part of a Gyeonggi-do opportunity reporter group ahead of Arbor Day,
I visited Banryeomaru and will share my experience from that day.
On April 3, Banryeomaru Yeoju held
The 'Life-Sharing Arbor Event with Pet Partners' in celebration of Gyeonggi-do's Pet Adoption Week.
Together with the Pet Leaders volunteer group,
We participated in various programs.
We planted trees around the pet playground at Banryeomaru Yeoju,
And engaged in 'plogging', which involves picking up trash while walking with protected animals.
After spending time bonding with the partner animals during the walk,
We also drew adoption promotion posters, hoping they find good owners.
Although I was there for reporting,
There were moments when I forgot about the task,
Enjoying the warm spring afternoon with the protected animals.
We started the event with an orientation,
And various people of different ages and genders, including college and high school students,
Gathered with shovels and gloves to dig and plant trees.
It had been years since I last planted a tree,
But working together made the process quicker than expected.
Seeing the greenery added to the well-maintained Banryeomaru made me feel proud.
I hope the trees we planted grow well and bring freshness to visitors.
After planting trees, we moved on to the main event,
Which was plogging with our partner animals.
We walked with dogs under care at Banryeomaru, picking up trash.
Since the area was well-maintained, there wasn’t much trash to collect,
So we primarily focused on bonding with our partner animals, treating them with snacks.
As I don’t have a dog, the staff handled the leash,
While I shared the leash with my energetic partner, Pinko,
And we walked together, petting and treating her.
Pinko wasn’t very affectionate, but her cool demeanor was endearing.
After plogging, we created posters hoping for the adoption of our partner dogs.
Currently, Banryeomaru Yeoju is caring for 150 dogs and 10 cats.
While I hope these animals find good homes soon,
The reality is that many still wait for their chance.
Banryeomaru promotes these animals through various channels.
It’s important to remember that pets should be adopted, not bought.
If you’re unsure where to adopt,
Consider finding a new companion at Banryeomaru.
There are many loving animals waiting for homes.
As of 2024, over 1.67 million households in Gyeonggi-do have pets.
While it’s great if everyone responsibly maintains their relationships with pets,
There are still many cases of abandoned animals each year.
To help address these issues, Gyeonggi-do operates programs for the treatment and protection of stray animals through Banryeomaru.
They support education and adoption programs to encourage happy companionship between pets and their owners.
To create a happier Gyeonggi-do for both people and animals,
Let’s start by adopting instead of buying.
If you live near Banryeomaru, consider volunteering for walks or temporary care.
Visiting Banryeomaru locations throughout Gyeonggi-do could be a rewarding experience.
Source :https://blog.naver.com/gyeonggi_gov/224244285345
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