You may already have noticed that the LL forums have moved, very soon the rest of the content will follow and all requests for this site will be redirected to our new home…

www.AnimalRescueKorea.org

Despite the lack of updates here recently, the rescue community is very much alive and so much help is still needed for the 140 dogs remaining at the Daejeon shelter which is set to close February 28th, 2008. Volunteer trips on weekends will be continuing until then.

Many adoptable cats and dogs are listed in the new Adoptable Animal Forums, please visit and spread the word that there are so many cute faces still waiting for homes.

Happy New Year!

You can order directly from the site:
http://www.koreananimals.or.kr/english/

The cost is $15 USD, including postage. There are wall and desk calendars to choose from.

If you are in Korea, you may contact KAPS about domestic orders.

Happy Holidays!

Hello friends, my name is Suni – many of you know me as the Museum Dog, and my picture was up on the L.L. website for a while. Recently I was adopted by Pam, an eccentric American lady who first saw my story and picture on this website. A few weeks ago, she made plans to visit me at the Science Museum in Daejeon, where I had been staying in a shed for months. I was found roaming the parking lot in the summertime, and my previous owner was a shady character who had some unscrupulous plan for my life. Thank goodness, the handymen at the museum, along with Mrs. Yun, took me in, and kept me fed and cared for as best they could - but it was no place for a little girl – especially as winter was approaching. My days were numbered at the museum, anyway, because just weeks before my new Mom came to rescue me, there was word that inspectors would come by - and if they saw me there, who knows what would have been my fate.

With the help of Annie, Mrs. Yun, and Lisa Marie, my Mom was able to get me home to Busan – it was my first time on the KTX train, and pretty scary for a girl who’s never been outside the gates of a museum! When I came home, Mom realized how dirty I was. I was lathered up in the shower, dried, fed, and shown my cozy new surroundings on the first night – it seemed too good to be true! I was a little unsure at first, but as the days passed, and I took regular walks around my neighborhood, I got a lot more confident. I know exactly where to do my business, where the food is kept, and what it means when Mom holds up my leash. I even learned some English commands! Now, I am really a bi-lingual dog. Mom has taught me “stay”, “no”, “come”, and “lay down” so far. Mom says I am very smart dog. One of my favorite things to do is chill out with Mom while she writes. I lean into her with my head on her arm, and it’s pretty comfy, indeed.

Over a week ago, I was spayed. Boy was I scared, and it was awful leaving my new home for a few days – but believe me, when it was all over, I was relieved. I had to wear a confounded halo until things were all healed up. But looking back, the vets were actually pretty cool! I am starting to like people more. For some reason, little old ladies think I’m cute, and they call to me. I think I look funny with my big black ears, but Mom says they’re cute, just like my personality.

I feel a little spoiled, actually, and I’m a bit embarrassed – Mom bought me a bunch of new clothes and toys. My favorites are my red pillow and my California parka. It’s all so overwhelming, and I’ll always remember my humble beginnings. I’ll remember, too, the good people who shielded me as best they could from harm, and kept me fed and sheltered until I found my forever home. Thanks everybody! I hope Mom brings me by to visit soon.

Your friend,
Suni

Let’s hope we hear more stories like hers!
Thank you Pam!

UPDATE Nov. 14th: Dengyi’s situation has been resolved, a foster home is no longer needed.

Pukka writes:

Yoonsun’s father decided to let the dog stay until she gets married in a few months. We really appreciate all the people who offered to help & we are not 100% sure but are hopeful that the situation has been resolved. Thanks to all!

PREVIOUS MESSAGE:
Dengyi is looking for a foster home/ babysitter. Can you help? This letter was sent to me today by Tim:

This is Dengyi, a little 2 year old chihuahua kindly adopted from the Daejeon dog shelter last week.

Dengyi has settled in well with the adopter and the resident chihuahua, however, she unfortunately cries loudly when she is left in the bedroom while the new owner goes to work (the adopter lives with her parents and they won’t allow Dengyi to run around the apartment when she is not home). We don’t think crying will be a problem if Dengyi is left in a larger area (eg. a whole apartment).

As a result, the parents have said they do not like the noise and have given her a week to find a new home for Dengyi or they will send her back to the shelter.

We desperately need a foster home for Dengyi while the woman and her fiancee arrange their own accommodation and she can move out of her parents’ apartment. She will rent a dog-friendly apartment and take Dengyi back as soon as possible.

Dengyi has lived her whole life at the shelter (she was born there) and we really want to prevent her being sent back now that she has finally had a glimpse of life outside a greenhouse filled with 200 dogs.

CONTACT INFO:
If you think you can help or would like to meet Dengyi please write or call one of the following people:

Yoonsun:
yoonsun_hur@naver.com
010 6500 8457

Tim:
tim at tim.vasudeva@gmail.com
010 8940 5233

So, to answer some of the questions that have been posted and sent, Yes! there will be plenty more upcoming chances to volunteer, foster, adopt, and otherwise help out in Daejeon. Weekly Saturday trips are still being arranged!

Conditions of the extension
The shelter is not allowed to take in more animals and must continue to reduce the number of animals though the adoption and fostering campaign. Actually, the reason the extension has been granted is due to the number of adoptions in October.

Statistics
Annie, Tim, Mark and friends got 14 dogs out in 3 days at the end of last month! Three dogs were moved to the KAPS shelter in Boeun (despite some stressful transportation glitches), two were moved to foster homes, and nine were adopted. A grand total of 40 have been moved to safety since the beginning of October, when news of the closing was first announced.

The bad news is that Annie did a headcount: There are 162 dogs remaining. This includes a couple recent litters of puppies that were born since the vet students, which had volunteered at the shelter in the past, stopped sterilizing for free. Fortunately, the Royal Animal Clinic’s Dr. Lee has suggested going there himself to sterilize the unneutered males for 30,000 per dog! This plan is currently under discussion.

Acknowledgments
Back to the good news. Big hugs of thank you to all the foster people and adoptive parents, as well as to Pam, Claudia, Becky, Karla, Sam, Eileen, Mark, Euni, Chaitanya, and Lei for donating generously to help the animals at this time of crisis (deepest apologies if I’ve missed anyone). Many thanks also for the past support from Fiona, Jody, Eric, Kenyon, Priscilla in South Africa, Sara in the US, Melissa in Canada, and Julia of in England whose help got this group started way back in 2006.

Special thanks also to Kyenan Keum of IAKA (International Aid for Korean Animals) who has contributed a large sum to help transport and vet the animals moving out of the shelter.

Publicity is working!
Mark Preston’s Facebook Group “Save the Dogs- The Daejeon 150” has reached over 130 members! The English and Korean posters and promotion have been working as well: 6 emails from Korean people interesting in adopting or donating came this week. Hopefully Jason Cresswess’s beautiful story in The Korea Times, Daejeon Dogs Need a Helping Hand, will find many more adopters and foster parents. So send all your friends the link to his story, or spread the word on Facebook

Please, don’t stop spreading the word, asking for help, putting up posters, and fund-raising! 162 furry friends are still counting on your help.