IDA Blog

Posts Tagged ‘Dogs’

CoCo was rescued from a "Dog Meat Farm" in 2010 & now has a loving home!

Every dog is a story. In South Korea, millions of dogs are subjected to the most unimaginable agony until their last breath, at grim and squalid dog meat farms and meat markets—the very bowels of existence—with their pitiless smell of human injustice and cruelty. They come to sorrow in these hellish places, imprisoned in filthy and desolate cages, where puppies are usually separated from their mothers, all awaiting their fate. According to a persistent and mystifying belief, the greater the terror and pain a dog experiences while dying—the more he suffers—the more intense the boost in adrenaline in the flesh for a tastier meat, as well as a real boon for a man’s virility. A life snuffed out. Everyday cruelties perpetrated casually and without remorse.

As every dog is a story, every rescue is a story—jubilation-bringing rescues that are rays of light in a realm of darkness.

Happy Angels Dog Rescue, in Los Angeles, California, not only rescues dogs from high-kill shelters and off the streets of L.A., but also funds, transports, and places dogs from South Korea. Working with various South Korean animal organizations, including IDA’s partner Coexistence for Animal Rights on Earth (CARE) and Young-Jin Kwon of the newly formed People Defending Animals, dogs are saved from dog meat slaughterhouses, dog meat farms, restaurants that serve dog meat, S. Korean shelters, and individual abuse cases. Because many South Korean dog lovers clamor for purebreds, especially puppies, adult dogs of mixed breeds find it much more difficult to find homes there. After rescue, the South Korean organizations foster and assist in the transportation of the dogs.

Founded in June, 2008, by Stephanie Jeong, Happy Angels has transported about 150 S. Korean dogs to be placed in permanent homes in Los Angeles. The following stories highlight an odyssey of unremittingly bleak lives, and miraculous endings.

Click ‘Read More’ to read these amazing and heartwarming stories!

Click Here to learn more about what IDA is doing to help animals in live markets in Korea.

Please click here for more info and to donate.

Read the rest of this entry »

Please replace your profile pictures with the Virtual Demo "Sign"

Tuesday, August 16th, is the International Day of Action for South Korean Dogs and Cats, when activists around the world speak out against the suffering and terrible fate of the two million dogs and cats killed every year in South Korea for consumption.

Mostly homeless dogs are strangled, beaten to death, or literally ripped apart. Others are bred on dog farms in deplorable conditions, crammed together in tiny cages, awaiting their gruesome deaths. Cats are subjected to their own torment by being bludgeoned and then boiled alive in “medicinal” stews.

This year, everyone can help the dogs and cats, no matter where you live, by participating in a virtual demonstration on Facebook and Twitter. It’s easy to do and a fantastic way to spread the word that it’s time to stop these indefensible atrocities perpetrated against the dogs and cats of S. Korea.

Please support South Korean animal-protection organizations in urging the South Korean government to strengthen its existing laws to illegalize the killing of companion animals and not openly sanction the illicit and shadowy world of the dog and cat industry.

Here’s how it works:

Facebook Instructions – Speak up for these Dogs & Cats in 2 easy steps!

1. Make sure you have your protest “Sign“. All you have to do is right click on the “South Korean Dog” image and choose “Save” to get this “sign”. Replace your profile photo to your “sign” and keep it up all week.

2. On Tuesday August 16th, post a link to this Action Alert that will allow you send an email to the Korean Government  letting them know that you are appalled and shocked to learn about the rampant cruelties inflicted upon animals that have been documented in South Korea’s live food markets. Then throughout the day encourage your friends to also send an email and join our efforts by changing their profile photo too!

Twitter Instructions:

1. Make sure you have your protest “sign“. All you have to do is right click on the “South Korean Dog” image and choose “Save” to get this “sign”. Replace your profile photo to your “sign” and keep it up all week.

2. On Tuesday August 16th, Tweet a link to this Action Alert that will allow you send an email to the Korean Government  letting them know that you are appalled and shocked to learn about the rampant cruelties inflicted upon animals that have been documented in South Korea’s live food markets. Then throughout the day tweet friendly reminders to encourage your friends to also tweet the link, send an email and join our efforts by changing their profile photo too! By including the following 3 Hastags (#) you can also encourage other animal activists outside your current followers to also join our efforts! Just paste one of 3 Hastags into your tweet – remember to not put spaces between the words and to include the #  :

• #DogsandCatsMatter
• #FriendsNOTFood
• #HelpTheseDogsandCats

One of the best things about your Online demos is that you can run them all day – Rain or Shine! But remember Messages, Statuses and Tweets that include profanity or can be interpreted as “abusive” may result in your profile being reported and/or deleted by Twitter and Facebook. IDA is not reasonable for any Messages, Statuses or Tweets sent or action that results. Please also keep in mind that the advocates in South Korea helping these animals are also South Korean – so please avoid language or comments that could be interpreted as hateful or even racist towards all South Koreans and Asians.

To find out how you can animals year round – CLICK HERE to sign up at IDA’s Action Center!

They call them the "Dog Days" for a reason...

Several times a year we learn of tragedies that could have been prevented. People tend not to realize that during the “dog days” of summer, for example, the temperature inside a car can climb to well above 100ºF degrees in just a matter of minutes. Because dogs can only cool themselves by panting and sweating through their paw pads, it is especially dangerous for them to sit in a hot car. Guardians love their companions and many want to take them everywhere they go. It is important, however, to realize that during the warm summer months, the safest place for your canine friends is indoors. If he or she must stay outside for long, avoid the hottest part of the day. Don’t forget to provide shade, water, and a kiddie pool.

So please consider this a friendly reminder to not leave your companion animals in the car during these hot summer months. Even with the windows cracked, dogs can suffer a heat stroke in a very short amount of time. Please leave your companions at home unless they can come inside with you.

Click here to learn more about The Guardian Campaign!

Due to the hard work and dedication of local animal advocate, Brandon Yanak, Ohio has its first Guardian Community. Not only did Brandon convince the Parma City Council to change their animal related ordinances, but he also convinced the Parma Animal Shelter, and the Middleburg Heights Animal Foundation to make the choice to use “guardian” instead of owner as well. See this great 30 second news clip from Tuesday’s victory here!

For more information on how you can make this happen in your city check out IDA’s Guardian Campaign.

One of the neglected dogs being rescued.

On Wednesday, June 29th, HAS volunteer Sarah Thomas, a vet tech, wildlife rehabilitator, and activist, and I set out to locate three horses in Grenada County, Miss., reported to be starving.  On our way, I got a call from my buddy Kevin Hodges, an animal control officer, water-meter reader, and part-time law enforcer for Charleston, Miss., only an hour from us, asking for help with six dogs also reported to be starving. Kevin knows he can count on our support and guardianship of animals we seize.

We located the first property where the horses were, but a privacy fence prevented “plain view” and an uncooperative sheriff meant the groundwork would have to be laid before there would be intervention.  I called Kevin to tell him that we were on our way to meet him. At 704 East Chestnut Street, Charleston resident Sherri White showed us six chained and horribly neglected dogs.  She claimed two to be hers and four to be those of her boyfriend’s relative.
After a visit to the police department, we prepared a seizure order, and crossed the street for Municipal Court Judge Steve Ross to sign. We returned, warrant in hand, and documented the heart-wrenching plight of the dogs and removed them. White protested the taking of her dogs and informed us the other “owner” refused to come when she called him. The chief and a fellow officer arrived to insure a smooth operation.

We immediately took off for Veterinary Associates, HAS’s vet clinic, to settle the dogs in and supervise as they dove into the nourishment they’d long been denied. White had stated she fed her dogs, but only fed the others if she had extra food. One of her dogs was as emaciated as the boyfriend’s relative’s dog to whom she was chained.  I listened in amazement as she told us she wouldn’t interfere when the other dog jumped her dog and would bite going for the morsel of food she gave her own dog.

The extraordinary density and inhumanity of seemingly conscious people is beyond my grasp. The gross neglect of the dogs has been recorded, they’ve been secured in a private kennel, and I’ll be filing criminal affidavits after meeting with the city attorney. Why can’t all community leaders have it so together like Charleston’s?

Thanks to Mississippi State University’s (MSU) student surgery team, Hope Animal Sanctuary was able to spay/neuter 4 cats and 27 dogs this week.  Deedra and Bryce Booker brought the dogs they’re fostering for us , Cindy Shaw brought the dogs Debbie Young is caring for, Arlin Arco brought the Winona Animal Shelter dogs we could fit on the list and there were 6 others, besides a few at the sanctuary.  It’s fantastic when so many people pitch in on surgery day.  Mike Martin came up just to help.  It was a long drive for him.  He and Lisa are devoted and appreciated volunteers.

Phoenicia and her pups were spayed yesterday.  They were abandoned in Montgomery County, Mississippi.  Little Bit too was found abandoned on the road.  Ronnie and Raymond were discovered with their 4 sisters on HWY 82.  The wonderful thing is the people who found them were willing to bring them in to IDA’s Hope Animal Sanctuary. IDA has done what we came to Mississippi to do – set up an oasis of hope for animals in one of the poorest states in the country.

My friend Theresa alerted me to a Wyatte, Miss. case of a 86 year-old man who lives in a gutted school bus.  John is a squatter who’s really fortunate that the man who owns the property feels compassion for him.  Theresa helps him and has helped the hoard of dogs he kept.  You may remember we took 19 pups our first 2 visits.  Sadly many of the pups suffered from distemper and didn’t make it.

Monday evening Theresa brought John’s remaining 3 female adults to be spayed. I was absolutely heartsick to think they would go back. They were covered in ticks and their feces was disgusting and parasite ridden.  We made a deal Theresa could take Daisy back but she would see that she gets all the preventive medicines she needs. Daisy is fond of John and sleeps with him in the school bus.

I was relieved that we would keep Iris and Rosie and Theresa would insure that Daisy was cared for. That was a deal I could live with. Iris and Rosie loved sleeping in with the sanctuary’s other dogs last night. They think this new life is pretty cool.

A huge thanks to MSU’s Dr. Busby and his team.  Without their help we wouldn’t be able to help all the animals we rescue and care for.

Please click here to donate directly to Hope Animal Sanctuary. The “double your donation” offer is still good – a very generous IDA supporter will match any donation you make through this link.

(See Part Two from yesterday for introduction to the folks mentioned below!)

Early Monday morning we began loading the animals for transport to our adoption partners. Arlin and Mr. Weed, a member of Winona Animal Advocacy Group (WAAG), brought their dogs, Mike came back with the dogs they fostered and helped load and check supplies for the journey. Deedra and Brice, her son, arrived with their fosters and others followed. We rearranged some crates, added 2 large crates and we were ready to head for Vet. Assoc. We had 4 dogs waiting for us there and Deedra’s friend, Patricia and her darling daughter, Griffe, were waiting with the pups they fostered.

Weather has been a huge issue this winter. We’ve had 6 snows here. Keep this in mind.

We were well into Oklahoma when we needed to stop. We spotted a large dog in the parking lot, emaciated and looking for food. She’d had many pups but wasn’t nursing. We set out to help her. She clearly wanted help, but just wasn’t sure of our reaching hands. I ran back to get a leash while Sarah kept up with her. It took about an hour, but we had Esmeralda safely on board. What a dog. She was soooo sweet and easy-going. She joined our little group we allowed to bed down between the seats. Elizabeth was our baby for several years. Cupcake is so well behaved and doesn’t like being crated. Their pleasure and calm demeanor actually help us make the grueling 24 hour trip.

There’s a reason I mentioned the weather. Before we left Oklahoma, the storm due in the next day was on us. We were equipped with backup heat and supplies should we have to stop, but surgeries were scheduled at Every Creature Counts (ECC) and holding over with the dogs in crates wasn’t ideal. We pressed on. Snow from Oklahoma to Ft. Lupton. You don’t know what white knuckles are until you’ve seen mine baring down on the wheel and using my years of experience to keep us safe.  I drove a box truck for 11 years when I was a teamster. I’m more at home in a truck than a car. There were few souls on the interstates, mostly UPS and Fed Ex.

When we arrived, the back door to ECC never looked so good. There are times when reason and determination forge events that faint hearts would shy from, some folks would question the wisdom of, and only those participating can truly say it was the right move. Our friends and our determination, and your donations to In Defense of Animals (IDA), made this trip possible. WAAG members, ECC, and friends donated the cost of the transport and preparation. IDA’s Eric Phelps and Matt Rossell organized and participated in a 100 mile bike ride that raised money that built us a stable for our blind and aged horses, their new feeder, and this transport. Funds not spent will carry our next transport. Thanks to everyone who helped. By the way, the dog who was banned from San Mateo, California for “herding joggers” has been adopted by Deedra and Kirk.

There were 68 of us at the BarkWorks pet store in Thousand Oaks on Saturday, February 13. We marched back and forth directly in front of the store, inside the mall. BarkWorks has six of the 100 stores in Los Angeles that sell dogs and cats from puppy mills.

IDA, the Companion Animal Protection Society and other groups in Los Angeles are working on legislation with local officials to ban this inhumane animal commerce. This legislation would require that pet stores only show animals from the city’s six animal shelters and rescue organizations, not puppy mills.

During the march a woman approached me and told me about a friend of hers who had purchased a dog from BarkWorks. Shortly thereafter the puppy became ill. She wouldn’t return the dog to the store because by then she had falling in love with the puppy.  So she paid out $4,500.00 to save the puppy’s life. Of course, most puppies in the same situation would not have had such wonderful (and able) guardians to pay for their treatment.

If you live in (or are visiting) Southern California and would like to help with pet store demos, please e-mail Bill Dyer: bill@idausa.org.

We completed our first transport of the new year.  At this moment I can’t recall a more grueling test of my wits, patience, and courage.

The day we returned from our Dec. 15^th transport, 19 puppies showed up as we were unloading crates, towels, and supplies. No problem, Lisa and Mike Martin said yes to one family of pups.  Deedra and Kirk Bookout, were just a phone call away. Challenge handled.  Then there were the hoarder Theresa’s dogs and the stray Enid dogs I told you about yesterday, and Ollie, abandoned at our interstate exit. I rescued Norwood on the side of Hwy 7 as I headed for Yalobusha County to aid with dogs whose guardian passed, and the list goes on. Hope Animal Sanctuary (HAS) and our foster guardians were filled to capacity. There’s nothing new about this, but it just shows how vital the transports are. The new ACO for the city of Winona is awesome and the WAAG team, Winona Animal Advocacy Group, got busy preparing dogs for transport.

PetSmart’s Valentine Adoptathon is a wonderful opportunity for adoptions. We worry that some adoptions are impulsive, but our adoption partner in Colorado, Every Creature Counts, doesn’t fold to impulse adoptions. Our goal was to get 70 dogs to ECC in time for the Adoptathon.

Fewer cats are adopted. Though every cat is tested before being introduced to our cattery, one came in negative for FIV and then became ill and tested positive, along with several other cats.  A mother cat test positive for AIDS, and a cat we’d had for years became ill with FIP.

We decided the cats with us deserve to live their lives. If they become ill, we’ll address their illness, but we do not place for adoption cats who have been exposed to incurable disease, and we do not euthanize cats who are still enjoying their lives. Some spend the rest of their lives with us, some are placed in foster care until we can place them for adoption.

As transport time approached we were faced with seemingly insurmountable hurdles. MSU’s “Fix ‘em” team would not be able to make their appointed surgery day. The mobile clinic generator went out. Rescue friends had steadily aided animals they hoped would make the transport. Half the animals for transport hadn’t had surgeries and the shots and heartworm tests would have to be arranged. Money was now an addition obstacle.

Never fear, Hope Animal Sanctuary is here – along with a team of awesome friends. Debbie Young took our Polly under wing and had her heartworm treatment performed. Our foster guardians and Arlin, our ace ACO in Winona, took dogs for rabies and heartworm tests. Dr. Tim Lloyd of Cleveland, Miss. neutered 10 males for us and gave rabies and heartworm tests.  And Doc came out to help us, saving us the transport of animals to Veterinary Associates.

The day before, I went to Kenner, LA to pick up Velvet, a dog banned from a California county for herding joggers. On the way back I picked up 2 dogs from another group who would join the transport, and got back after midnight.  I took care of our older, younger, and challenged dogs, and hit the sack.

Dr. Tim is fantastic. Surgeries and paperwork were done by 1:00. I headed for Winona, and Arlin unloaded our precious dogs. I headed for supplies from our feed store, came back, unloaded, headed for general supplies and dog food, came back and unloaded, took care of the dogs back at HAS, did laundry, paperwork, and computer work. Simple days here are rare.

Transport day neared. The documentation of the animals was put together by each foster guardian and Debbie and Deedra were inputting the data onto our Petpoint site – right up to departure. Yes, there are always last minute changes. There were several adoptions, a couple of dogs just weren’t ready, other friends heard about the transport, and the most challenging factor was carting that many animals humanely. This transport we had so many large and adult dogs going we had to insist that everyone come to the sanctuary to load. I’d gotten the transport truck Friday and Mike and Lisa came Sunday to insulate it, load the crates, insert bedding, and sticker the crates for identifying occupants Monday morning.

Tune in tomorrow to read the rest of the story!

We apologize for the no-news span – there was plenty going on here in Mississippi. A quick recap does little justice to the events of the past 6 weeks, but I’ll fill you in a bit and then get into this week’s news.

So much has happened. Horses Eric and Roscoe were adopted into a wonderful family with lots of animal smarts and compassion. Eric and his 3 companion horses were rescued from a Yalobusha County man who claimed to feed them well with his lawn trimmings. Eric’s companions were adopted soon after their recovery. Eric required a home with greater understanding for his mistrust of humans. Roscoe too was rescued from neglect and indifference, thin with overgrown hoofs and a dull, unhealthy coat.

Six of our emus were adopted by a wonderful man and his family who love to care for and watch over animals. Over the years this man has reported multiple cruelty cases to us and we’ve had the opportunity to know him and become acquainted with his care for his animals.

Theresa, the hoarder who we’ve seized animals from twice before, was back at it. The blessing was there were only 7 dogs with her this time. We seized 28 dogs from her previously in Yalobusha County. We’re confident that this will be our last dealings with Theresa as a hoarder.  Tallahatchie County Deputy Patrick Tribble, who aided us with this seizure, is well-respected and people in the area have vowed to inform him if Theresa gets even one more dog. He is The Man when it comes to animal issues. In December, we placed for adoption nine puppies he rescued and Maury, the Chihuahua.

An Enid, Mississippi family began feeding 6 dogs who wandered to their neighborhood. The dogs took up on the family’s porch furniture for warmth. Nervous neighbors talked of shooting the dogs, fearing posed a danger. We got a call and rescued them. Five were already transported for adoption and Sugar Bear will be heartworm treated next week. Gay and Larry Evaldi, our treasured friends who moved from here to Florida, have paid for her treatment. They fostered or adopted 4 of our dogs, and she aided with animal care and cruelty cases while he babysat and rushed to our aid when needed.

We were so busy during our blog absence that the summary seems trite, but I hit on some important things. Tune in tomorrow for details on our first adoption transport of the year.