Humane Society International (HSI) has closed its 15th Korean dog meat farm. Working with partner branches all over the world, they are now placing over 90 rescued dogs into new homes.
HSI has been working with Korean farmers for many years, shutting down dog meat farms and re-homing the dogs that they rescue. The latest closure has led to over 90 dogs being placed in the care of Humane Society partners all over the UK, Canada, and here in the United States.
In the Korean culture, some see dog meat as a delicacy, and dog meat farms can be found around the country. Growing public opposition to the trade and organizations like HSI are both contributing to the ongoing closures of these farms. The dogs spend their entire lives out in the elements, in cages, often being bred within the confines of these small enclosures.
Due to the quick nature of the dogs' evacuation, they are placed with shelters that have immediate openings. In our region, a few shelters in the DMV will be receiving many of these rescued dogs. Homeward Trails Animal Rescue in Northern Virginia has already taken in and listed several dogs for adoption. Another group of dogs will be going to the Humane Society of Washington County in Hagerstown, Maryland, and a third group is at the Fairfax County Animal Shelter.
Photo by Sarina Petrocelly
It will take a special type of pet parent to adopt these Korean dogs, as they have spent their entire lives in cages and are not used to human interaction. The older dogs have not been housebroken and will require endless patience and a consistent routine. Simple things that we take for granted, like walking downstairs or the feeling of grass, will be completely foreign to them. I adopted one of these dogs from "Farm 13" in 2018 and have gone through all of this with our dog, Hachi. She was even scared of ceiling fans!
Taking photos of them in their travel carriers, I noticed that the new arrivals at Homeward Trails were very subdued. The older puppies (Wilf and Monty) are on the quiet side, but would bark any time another dog walked through the door. The younger puppies (David, Quake, Wasp, Kaffee, and Nelson) are roly-poly little balls of fur and just seemed sleepy. If you are interested in adopting one of these dogs, you can visit the Homeward Trails adoption site and fill out an adoption questionnaire.
Photo by Tony Petrocelly
If you are unable to adopt but would still like to help out, you can make a donation to Humane Society International here. Local partners like Homeward Trails Animal Rescue and the Humane Society of Washington County can always use donations of food, supplies, or money as well.
Photo by Sarina Petrocelly
**The photos in this article are courtesy of the Humane Society International Facebook page unless credited otherwise.
For more information, visit the Humane Society International website or Facebook page. Their ongoing mission is to rescue dogs all over the world and help them find loving homes through their global partners. To see if more of the Korean rescued dogs are available near you, check with your local shelters.
Are you considering adopting one of these Korean rescues? Have you already adopted a dog from similar circumstances? Tell us about it in the comments.