Pudding, a pet dog from Yeonggwang County, South Korea, was left alone after its family members tragically passed away in a Jeju plane crash on December 29. The family was returning home after a trip to Thailand. Pudding was the companion dog of A, 80, the eldest victim of the Jeju Air disaster at Muan International Airport on December 29, which claimed 179 lives. A was returning from a trip to Bangkok, Thailand, for an 80th birthday celebration with his family, who also cared for Pudding, when the tragedy occurred.
A was travelling with his wife, two daughters, a son-in-law, a granddaughter, and three grandsons. All of them were on board the flight. The only surviving family member was another son-in-law, who did not board the flight and was left grieving the shocking loss of his loved ones.
According to an Instagram post shared by the animal rights group Coexistence of Animal Rights on Earth (CARE), Pudding tirelessly searched for its family members in the village, moving between the family’s home and the village centre. The dog would stare at passing cars and buses, seemingly hoping to see its family return.
Pudding has since been admitted to a veterinary hospital in Seoul. CARE revealed that Pudding’s vomit contained chicken bones and onions—foods that are harmful to dogs.
“We determined that it was unsafe for Pudding to roam the village without a caretaker, After contacting the grieving family at the funeral, we decided to look after Pudding until a suitable guardian can be found.” the organisation explained.
After speaking with the grieving family, CARE decided to take responsibility for Pudding until a suitable guardian could be found.
Pudding visits joint memorial service for Jeju victims
According to the Korea Times, Pudding wore a blue outfit for the memorial service and was carried by a foster caregiver. The dog gazed quietly at the joint memorial tablet, and when the caregiver approached the altar with a chrysanthemum flower, Pudding looked around but remained calm.
As Kim Young-hwan, the head of Care, read a eulogy, Pudding fixed its eyes on the memorial tablet for the victims. Throughout the visit, Pudding did not bark even once.
CARE is now conducting health checkups for Pudding and plans to look after the dog until it can find a new loving home. “We are committed to ensuring Pudding receives the care and love it deserves,” the organisation stated.
“We deeply mourn all the victims of the plane disaster, including Pudding's family, and offer our condolences to the bereaved families,” the animal group added
The Tragic Air Crash
On December 29, 179 people died in a flight crash on the Boeing 737-800. The Jeju Air flight 7C2216 was travelling to South Korea from Thailand. This tragic plane crash took place at Muan International Airport in South Korea.
