Hero rescue dog retires after a career of saving 9 lives

A-rong (Gyeonggi-do Northern Special Response Unit)

Gyeonggi Province fire authorities said Friday that veteran rescue dog A-rong is retiring after a six-year stint, and is seeking a new family.

A-rong, a male Labrador retriever weighing 32 kilograms, was born in 2014 and participated in 312 rescue operations and aided the rescue of nine individuals, according to the Gyeonggi Fire and Disaster Headquarters.

A member of the Gyeonggi-do Northern Special Response Unit since December of 2017, he has had special training for rescue operations in the mountains and to search through rubble in the aftermath of natural disasters, acquiring state certification in each category.

Last July, A-rong was dispatched to a rescue operation at the site of a landslide in a quarry in Yangju, northern Gyeonggi Province. He managed to find the bodies of two of the three victims that were buried beneath the mud and rubble.

Officials said they decided to put him up for adoption, as the dog's old age may hinder his operation.

"We hope that the applicants would be someone who could take care of him, and make sure that he stays healthy," they said.

Those wishing to apply can find out more at the unit's homepage (119.gg.go.kr/north) in Korean, including the requirements for applicants -- such as having a yard with fences. They can submit their applications through fax or email until Dec. 28, and the final selection will be announced on Jan. 3.

By Yoon Min-sik(minsikyoon@heraldcorp.com)