From Korea to Taiwan: A Journey Toward a Better Future for Stray Dogs
▲ PAWINHAND Team and PACK Taiwan Team at the PACK Taiwan Sanctuary PAWINHAND has long promoted the message of "Adopt, Don't Shop." By connecting shelter animals across South Korea and helping reunite lost pets with their families, the platform has become one of the country's most influential adoption resources.
▲ Left | Sharing Practical Experience in Stray Dog Care
▲ Right | Touring the PACK Taiwan Sanctuary and Sunshine House
From Vision to Action: Inside PACK Taiwan's Frontline Care
Dr. Lee shared that he first discovered PACK Taiwan while researching Taiwan's approach to stray dog welfare. Inspired by our mission and believing that our work creates a positive impact on society, he dedicated an entire day to visiting PACK Taiwan. During the visit, he learned how we support public shelters in improving their environments and animal welfare, as well as how, as a private organization, we continue to enhance the lives of stray dogs through professional care and management.
During the visit, we shared how PACK Taiwan supports public shelters, improves living environments for rescued dogs, and provides professional care, behavioral assessment, and training. The team also toured our newly completed Sunshine House, where we introduced our work with senior dogs and those with medical or special needs.
▲ Discussion on Stray Animal Policies and Shelter Systems in Taiwan and South Korea
Taiwan and South Korea Join Hands to Advance Animal Welfare
During the exchange, we also discussed the challenges and changes Taiwan has experienced since implementing its no-kill policy in 2017. Dr. Hwan-Hee Lee noted that Taiwan's progress in stray animal policy and animal welfare has drawn growing attention from animal welfare organizations around the world. As many countries are facing similar challenges, they are eager to learn from Taiwan's experience following the implementation of the policy and explore more effective solutions through international exchange.
Both teams also shared the unique challenges they face in Taiwan and South Korea, from shelter management, animal welfare, and adoption systems to their firsthand experiences working on the front lines. Through continued dialogue and the exchange of practical knowledge, we hope to inspire new ideas and create more possibilities for improving the future of stray dogs.
▲ Left | Introducing PACK Academy's Four-Stage Adoption System▲ Right | Dr. Hwan-Hee Lee Interacting with Dogs from PACK Academy
PACK Academy: There Are No Perfect Dogs, Only the Right Family for Each Other.
One of the key topics of the visit was PACK Academy, our unique four-stage adoption program, which emphasizes behavioral assessment, professional training, and thoughtful family matching. For us, adoption is about more than simply finding a home for a dog—it's about helping both dogs and families find the right life together.
Dr. Hwan-Hee Lee also shared his belief that thorough assessment and training before adoption can help dogs adjust more smoothly to family life while reducing the likelihood of adoption returns, ultimately making every adoption a lasting and successful match.
For us, every international exchange is an opportunity to learn, grow, and inspire one another. We sincerely thank the PAWINHAND team for visiting PACK Taiwan, and we look forward to building more international partnerships as we continue working toward a kinder future for stray dogs.
PAWINHAND is one of South Korea's leading stray animal information and adoption platforms. It connects animal shelters nationwide and provides stray animal information, adoption matching services, and animal welfare resources. Dedicated to promoting the "Adopt, Don't Shop" philosophy, PAWINHAND uses technology and its digital platform to improve adoption rates and advance animal welfare.