Sapsali dog Kingsley becomes Gyeongsan's first Charity Pet

Kingsley, a Sapsali dog designated as Natural Monument No. 368, has become the first ‘Charity Pet’ in Gyeongsan. The registration ceremony was held at the Gyeongsan City Hall on the 4th, organized by the Community Chest of Korea.

The ‘Charity Pet’ program allows pet owners to participate in regular monthly donations of 20,000 KRW or more in the name of their animals. Kingsley is currently being raised by Kim Han-ah, an outside director of the Korea Sapsali Foundation, and Paul Zilka, a foundation ambassador.

Sapsali dogs are indigenous to Korea and were historically valued for their perceived ability to ward off evil spirits. After facing near extinction during the Japanese colonial period, the breed underwent restoration efforts starting in the 1960s. Gyeongsan continues to manage the breed through scientific methods, including DNA analysis and microchipping, to maintain pure bloodlines.