Smilegate In-House Community and Hope Studio Bring Warmth to Rescued Dogs on a Sunny Spring Day 2025-05-29

Recently, members of Smilegate’s pet lovers’ community, S.Dogker (Smilegate Dog Walker), visited a private dog shelter in Yongin called Tierheim. They volunteered to walk the dogs and clean the kennels. Supported by the city governments of Yongin and Gwangju, Tierheim rescues and shelters around 1,500 stray dogs each year.

This volunteer effort began when S.Dogker reached out to Hope Studio with the idea of organizing a pet-related service activity. In response, Hope Studio launched a donation campaign titled “A Warm Touch for Abandoned Animals.” On a sunny April day filled with warmth and compassion, S.Dogker community president and Smilegate Holdings manager Lee Ji-hye shares her reflections from the experience.

It was a bright April morning, with sunlight pouring in and a sense of anticipation in the air. Today was the day our S.Dogker members would visit a shelter for abandoned animals. Who would we meet? What kind of sincerity would we see in those round, gentle eyes? With excitement and curiosity, I stepped out the door.

A Walk Full of Joy, A Moment of Sincerity

We followed a winding mountain road to our destination: Tierheim, located in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province. Just after 9 a.m., community members began arriving. Once preparations were complete, we divided into two teams—one for dog walking and the other for cleaning—and began our work.

The walking team was in charge of taking the dogs out for strolls along the nearby trail. For dogs that spend most of their day inside narrow kennels, walking isn’t just exercise—it’s a precious connection to the outside world.

This is especially true for medium- and large-sized dogs, who prefer to relieve themselves outdoors. But for the shelter, walking nearly 400 dogs every day is no easy task.

That’s why one of the shelter staff told us that on days like this, when many volunteers visit, it’s a big help—more dogs get to enjoy some fresh air. Hearing that, I made a quiet promise to myself: “Let’s walk with as many dogs as possible today.”

Did the dogs sense that sincerity? As soon as they saw us holding the leashes, they came wagging their tails to greet us. Laura, Aria, Custard, Leia... we called out each of their names gently and warmly.

We reminded ourselves of the precautions the staff had shared with us: “Call the dogs by name,” “Check on their condition frequently.” We also sprayed tick repellent—ready to go!

Now it was time for the actual walk. Some dogs, unfamiliar with walking, slowly circled the front yard to get used to it. Others, already comfortable with it, happily trotted up the trail, soaking in the scent of spring.

Swish, Swash—The Quiet Way to Express Love

While the walking team was out on the trail, the cleaning team split again into two smaller groups—one for kennel cleaning and the other for dishwashing.

Special care was needed when cleaning the areas for sick dogs or long-term residents.

Before starting, we read the information posted at the kennel entrances and gently approached each dog, calling their names.

To our relief, each of them greeted us with wagging tails and friendly faces.

Some dogs even showed affection right away, licking our hands as soon as we stepped inside.

Moved by their affection, we diligently made our way through the kennels, cleaning every corner and laying down fresh wood shavings.

Even the dogs that were still wary of people quietly observed us—but their tails never stopped wagging.

One dog, clearly happy with the new bedding, jumped into a volunteer’s arms and gave them a big kiss to show their joy.

We couldn’t help but exclaim, “So cute!” and “What a sweetheart!”

By the time we had finished cleaning the kennels, we had also nearly completed washing more than 400 food and water dishes.

When we filled the clean bowls with fresh water, the dogs came running and drank eagerly, as if they had been waiting all day.

Watching them drink so contentedly—it felt like our own thirst had been quenched as well.

We had arrived that morning to a gentle breeze, but by lunchtime, the sun was shining strong overhead. As the final walking group returned to the shelter, we all gathered once again. After more than three hours of volunteering, we were sweaty and tired—but our faces were full of joyful smiles. The sense of fulfillment and pride from spending the day with these lovable dogs was undeniable.

As we said goodbye to the dogs, instead of saying, “See you again,” we offered a different kind of farewell.

“Find a loving home—so we don’t have to meet again.”

In our hearts, we quietly wished that each of them would find a family as warm as a spring day and live a life full of love. With that silent wish, we turned away from the shelter and made our way home.

Introducing “Hee-Hee Rak-Rak”

“Hee-Hee Rak-Rak” is a social contribution program jointly created by Smilegate’s in-house community system, Smile樂, and Heemang Studio.

“Hee-Hee Rak-Rak” is a social contribution initiative born out of collaboration between Smile樂—Smilegate’s internal community platform that strengthens employee bonds and fosters a joyful workplace—and Heemang Studio. The partnership began with the idea of sharing that internal “joy” with the wider community.

Through Hee-Hee Rak-Rak, Smilegate employees can extend their hobbies and passions into acts of giving, allowing for more natural and meaningful participation in social contribution.

Written by:

Lee Ji-hye, Smilegate Holdings

President, S.Dogker Community