Meet 4-year-old Baekgu, South Korea’s first honorary rescue dog

A four-year-old dog named Baekgu has proven that dogs are truly a man’s best friend. It all started when Baekgu’s owner, a 90-year-old woman with dementia living in South Korea’s Hongseong county, went missing on August 25.

The police, when they checked the security camera footage of a nearby farm, saw the woman, identified only as Kim, and her little white dog leaving the village. The police launched a search operation with the fire department, as well as volunteer residents who scoured the area as rain poured down.

Nearly 40 hours later, Kim was found in the middle of a rice field, about two kilometers (about 1.3 miles) away from her home. She had collapsed in a wet area where the rice grew tall and full, hiding her from view, and leaving her drenched and unable to get up.

Also read: Joe Biden’s church visit: Reply to Catholic bishops or mourning for dog Champ?

In a press release, the police said that she might not have made it if not for faithful Baekgu.

Throughout the entire ordeal, as the weather got worse and the night grew cold, Baekgu stayed by her side — keeping her body temperature up, even as she began experiencing symptoms of hypothermia.

And it was Baekgu who authorities credited with the 90-year-old woman’s eventual rescue. The search team sent out a thermal drone, which detected the little dog’s thermal signature in the rice field.

The press release further said that the woman is under medical treatment in the hospital. Meanwhile, the authorities on Monday awarded Baekgu a new title for his courage.

Last year, the National Fire Agency had introduced a regulation that allowed the appointment of honorary firefighters, fire ambassadors and rescue dogs. This made Baekgu the country’s first-ever honorary rescue dog.

Also read: US bans dogs from over 100 countries amid concerns of rabies virus variant

Photos from the ceremony show a floral garland placed around Baekgu’s neck, with a small crowd in attendance — as well as the provincial governor.

“At a difficult time due to Covid-19, Baekgu created an unbelievable miracle and moved everyone,” said Gov. Yang Seung-jo.

Shim Geum-sun, the daughter of the 90-year-old, said they adopted Baekgu three years ago after he was attacked by a bigger dog.

“Baekgu especially liked my mother, and it’s as if Baekgu returned our favor,” Shim said. “I was so concerned as mom went missing for hours due to the rainy weather … I’m grateful and Baekgu is our family.”