A trip to Korea has a very different meaning and purpose for the Directors of Free Korean Dogs. Unlike a leisurely trip for most travelers to Korea, I have been telling everyone the Founder & Executive Director of Free Korean Dogs is doing the heavy lifting in Korea.
Without a doubt, adoption is an important part for Free Korean Dogs and that is how most adopters came to know us. BUT, behind the scene is where the heavy lifting unveils – hours of driving alone throughout South Korea to various shelters we partner with.
May 2018 marks a significant milestone as EK Park visited 8 shelters to solidify the working partnerships. Each of these shelters is staffed primarily with volunteers and home to a range of 60 to 350 dogs. These dogs escaped the horrible fate from dog meat farms, dog meat market and high kill shelters.
All these shelters have very limited resources and space; Free Korean Dogs is doing our part to re-home these lovely dogs to their forever homes in Canada. Many of the dogs EK met during the visit will be available for adoption from June onwards.
Aside from visiting shelters and selecting eligible dogs for Free Korean Dogs adopters, EK is raising public awareness about the brutality of dog & cat meat trade by joining various protests. Protesting for animal rights in Korea is yet another heavy lifting task – EK spent hours demonstrating and revealing the ugly truth of dog & cat meat trade on hot, humid summer days. Further, dog meat trade is unionized in Korea; protesting against the union reps, meat traders & farmers can be dangerous as tension rises and words are exchanged. Free Korean Dogs along with other protesters of fellow animal welfare groups will not stand down; we are the voice for the 2 million dogs that get slaughtered for meat every year.
Free Korean Dogs is in the planning phase to SHUT DOWN a Dog Meat Farm with 50 dogs. Many challenges and obstacles are still ahead but we are very optimistic as we leverage the support and partnerships Free Korean Dogs fostered over the years.
Join Free Korean Dogs’ journey to fight and end the dog and cat meat trade today.
Written by William Yang
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