On September 7th KST, fans of BTS V commemorated the birthday of his beloved dog Yeontan with heartfelt donations to animal welfare organizations around the world. This year marked what would have been Yeontan’s 8th birthday—his first since passing away.
Yeontan, who was often called the “eighth member of BTS” by fans, held a special place in the hearts of ARMYs around the globe. Despite being in poor health from the time of his adoption, he became one of the most recognized celebrity pets worldwide.
In a 2021 year-end interview, V shared a touching message when asked whom he would write a thank-you card to: “Tan was not healthy from birth. I’m so thankful he endured, held on, and stayed alive. I hope we can make many more fun memories together for the rest of his life. I want to see adult Tan,” he said, expressing his deep affection.
In December 2024, V took to Instagram to announce Yeontan’s passing: “The reason I’m writing today is because Tan has recently embarked on a long journey to the dog star.” The news broke fans’ hearts and sparked an outpouring of love and remembrance.
Yeontan’s fame extended far beyond the fandom. He was named alongside Ariana Grande’s dog, Taylor Swift’s cat, and Tom Holland’s dog as one of the most famous celebrity pets. Media outlets such as Metro UK and CBS’s Entertainment Tonight host Denny Directo even referred to Yeontan as “one of the most famous dogs in the world.”
On his birthday, hashtags like #ForeverWithYeontan and #tannie topped the worldwide real-time Twitter trends, showing just how dearly fans still cherish his memory.
To celebrate, fanbases around the world organized charitable donations in Yeontan’s name:
- V Union, a global fan collective, and KTH_UK, a UK-based fanbase, donated to the RSPCA, a British organization dedicated to animal rescue, rehabilitation, and welfare.
- BTS V Spain made a donation to the Vegan Sanctuary Foundation, Spain’s first animal protection group, in honor of the love and memories shared with Yeontan.
- In India, Taehyung India supported the AWCS Foundation, helping animals affected by recent floods.
- Brazil’s V CREW BR contributed to CEL, a local animal protection organization, and
- Kim Taehyung Myanmar donated to Oasis Shelter, which cares for abandoned pets.
Through these acts of kindness, fans ensured that Yeontan’s legacy lives on—not just in their hearts, but in the lives of animals in need across the globe.
