Rescue Dog Tobaegi, After 6 Years of Duty, Becomes an Ordinary Pet with Handler
Rescue dog Tobaegi, who saved lives at disaster sites for six years, has retired to become a family member to his handler and is enjoying a peaceful daily life.
Tobaegi, a life-saving rescue dog who saved lives at disaster sites for six years, has retired to become a member of his handler's family, spending a peaceful and relaxed daily life. According to a video from the Haemaru Companion Animal Medical Foundation, Tobaegi is a rescue dog who demonstrated outstanding sense of smell and judgment while active at various disaster sites, including the scene of the Türkiye Earthquake.
From Hero of Disaster Sites to Handler's Family Member
Born in 2016, Tobaegi has worked as a partner with handler Kim Cheol-hyeon, a fire lieutenant, since the age of 3. Tobaegi proved his outstanding skills by winning first place in the National Fire Rescue Dog Competition and participated in the World Rescue Dog Competition held in Romania as a representative of South Korea. In particular, during the Türkiye Earthquake, there is a record of him continuing his field activities even in a difficult situation where his weight dropped to 12kg due to hyperthyroidism.
Having completed his 6-year mission, Tobaegi has become a member of fire lieutenant Kim Cheol-hyeon's family. In the video, Kim explained the background of why he personally brought Tobaegi home, saying, "After making him go through all that hardship, I couldn't let someone else take over him now that he's exhausted; I had to bring him home." Currently, Tobaegi has adapted to apartment life and lives under the meticulous care of his handler, such as having mats laid out for him.
Leisure and Health Management Enjoyed After Retirement
Unlike the past when he could not let down his guard at the scene, Tobaegi currently shows a relaxed appearance, "losing his military discipline" by enjoying playing in the swimming pool or eating nutritious food. Lieutenant Kim supports his life as a pet by going to play in the water with Tobaegi and providing delicious food.
As he is entering his senior years, focus is also being placed on health management. The video captures the process of checking Tobaegi's health status. As a result of the physical examination, there were no unusual findings in the auscultation, but observations were made to check the size of the adrenal gland, a hormone organ, to prevent diseases such as Cushing's syndrome that may occur in the future. Currently, Tobaegi is reported to be maintaining a healthy state without any unusual issues.
The Haemaru Companion Animal Medical Foundation supports Tobaegi's health management for the happy lives of special-purpose dogs and is working to ensure that rescue dogs can continue a stable life even after retirement.
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