The only thing better than witnessing a rescue dog’s journey is being a part of it. Kimchi (formally Chookbok) was born and subsequently rescued from a dog meat farm in S. Korea. Having lived her life in a cramped, rusty cage, everything was new to her. She was a little fish in the ocean, and upon flying to Canada to join her forever home, she became a fish out of water.
But with love, patience, and support, Kimchi slowly discovered all the good things in the world, and is now enjoying every minute of it. Now, she’s an “old pro”, showing her (now foster-failed) 4-legged brother and baby 2-legged brother the ropes when they first arrived.
With Boknal, Korea’s dog meat consumption tradition, only a few days away, it’s easy to get discouraged and disheartened. But we look to stories like Kimchi to remind us why we continue to do what we do.
(PS: It’s Kimchi’s 4th gotcha day! Happy Adopt-A-Versary Kimchi!)
IG: @kimchip.by.the.gram
🥳 FRIDAY FOSTER FEATURE 🎉
Youngshik is an 11 month terrier mix patiently waiting for his forever home!
We are so surprised because he is so easy to fall in love with. He is such a funny, goofy boy who loves his canine foster siblings and showering his humans with kisses.
Apply or learn more via our website!
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#freekoreandogs #adoptdontshop #dogrescue #rescuedog #rescue #rescuedogsofinstagram #rescueismyfavoritebreed #rescueisthebestbreed #dogadoption #adoptme #takemehome #adoptionsaveslives #vancitydogs #Vancouver #koreanrescuedog
#throwback to this time last year, when our founder and executive director EK Park was in Korea on the frontlines of our 3rd self initiated dog meat farm shutdown.
It's been a journey. Change doesn't just happen, it requires progress, and progress requires someone to create it.
While we've helped these dogs take their first steps towards their transformation, the credit belongs to them. We can't help but smile when we see the progress they've made.
🥳 FRIDAY FOSTER FEATURE 🎉
Sihwa's babies are in Vancouver looking for their forever home! They are enough 10 months old, and we're born after their mom was rescued from the Siheung dog meat farm shutdown.
Although all was going well, she ended up rejecting them, and even though they were much too young to be weaned, they were successfully reared by our shelter volunteers.
Having grown up in the shelter, they are well socialized with people and other dogs. they are going to make great companions to some lucky adopters!
View their bios via our website to apply or learn more!
🥳 FRIDAY FOSTER FEATURE 🎉
Walter is currently with his foster family in the Greater Toronto Area (Halton Hills) and is in search of his forever home!
He is a 3 year old terrier mix (weighing 4kg/9lb) who can be timid in the beginning, but ends up giving you his whole heart once he gets acquainted. After he has warmed up, he is the sweetest love bug who seeks out cuddles and affection from his humans. It takes him longer to warm up to men versus women, but he has had no issues with his previous and current foster dads after given some time.
Walter currently shares his home with 3 other dogs and does great with other dogs of all sizes. He finds his confidence and is the best version of himself when he is in the company of other canines.
As such, Walter is looking for a home with an existing canine resident (a requirement for his adoption). He would thrive in a home where his humans have the time to spend with him during the day (working from home, retired, etc) in a quiet area outside of the city.
To apply or learn more:
https://www.freekoreandogs.org/adopt/walter/
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#freekroeandogs #adoptdontshop #adoptables #adoptionsaveslives #lookingforahome #adoptme #takemehome #rescuedog #rescueismyfavoritebreed #rescueisthebestbreed #rescuedogsrule #dogrescue #koreanrescuedog #rescuedogsofinstagram #rescuedogsofig #rescuedogs #koreanrescuedogs #torontodogs
Before & After, 4 Years Later ...
4 years ago, we shutdown a dog meat farm in Dangjin, Korea, rescuing 69 of its dogs. Among them were Doyi and 6 other dog Dosa breed dogs.
These 7 dogs were our most "aggressive" dogs. Given the treatment they endured on the farm, they had a hard time trusting humans and would resort to fight instincts when feeling threatened. Having never experienced kindness, the simple extension of a human hand was intimidating to them.
We couldn't really blame them though. The dog meat farmer laughed when he told them he would often beat them with sticks to get a rise out of them. He told us they were "insane" and were better used as meat.
Most people have argued the best option for dogs with this level of reactivity would be to euthanize them. The time, resources, and finances could be better spent helping dogs elsewhere.
But a dog who is reactive is reactive for a reason. How could humans inflict such horrible treatment on them in order for them to react this way, then punish them further by taking their lives? A dog who is "aggressive" has as much will to live than any other dog. Their behaviors are a result of wanting to live, survive, and protect themselves from harm. They simply need to learn how to trust and respond in a healthy manner.
4 years later, after a lot of hard work with their trainers at training school, Doyi and his friends have found their confidence in themselves and humans. There was no magic and no quick fixes. Just time, patience, understanding, and a lot of hard work.
Since our founding, we have pledged to leave no dog left behind in our rescue. Through the years, we have learned no dog is beyond help, and no dog is worth less because they offer less desirable traits. All dogs deserve the right to live and a second chance at life. They are worth every spare second and penny.
We could watch this video all day. Wyn's wiggle bum is mesmerizing 😅
In all seriousness, we've re-evaluated his needs for his forever home. Despite currently living with 2 other rescue dogs in his foster home where he co-exists well with, we will be looking for a home where Wyn can be an only child to have all the attention to himself.
Wyn did in fact have an amazing applicant of which we had a great interview and references with. However, during the meet and greet, the 2 dogs (both of whom are usually indifferent to other dogs) stressed each other out. While we don't have an explanation, we do know that in every relationship (whether dog or human), sometimes we just aren't on the same wavelength, through no fault of anyone.
It has come to the realization that even with a dog he is indifferent to, Wyn would live his best and happiest life as an only child with people who have the time to spend with him at home.
We also believe Wyn would do better in a house setting rather than an apartment or condo. Despite his short little legs and adorable little rump, he is still true to his breed and a herding dog at heart. He would enjoy a secure yard to call his own.
To apply or learn more about Wyn:
https://www.freekoreandogs.org/adopt/wyn/
It's #FeelGoodFriday, and boy do we have all the feels today.
The past few days have been a rollercoaster of emotions, from anger (at the treatment of the dogs), to fear (we would not be able to secure the possession of the dogs and farm), to relief (our mission was a success) to gratitude (to everyone who came together to help us make this mission possible).
The cherry on top of it all is seeing the fear and anxiety of our dogs fade away, and the process of healing and learning what safety and freedom feel like.
The worst is over, but the journey has just begun. Every rescue mission we undertake comes with a "no dog left behind" commitment. Each one of these 101 rescued dogs will be given the proper medical attention and training needed regardless of any level of health or behavioral issues. Every dog is even an equal chance at a second chance, and we will do everything in our power to provide them with the best opportunities for success.
Please consider supporting our dogs through a one time or monthly donation. No amount is ever too small. Free Korean Dogs is a registered charity in Canada and the US. Donations of $20 or more are tax deductible.
https://www.freekoreandogs.org/donate/
Example of nose-work and foraging toy
Fri-YAY! 😄
#flashback to our previous training post about the importance of mental stimulation ... snuffle toys are a great boredom buster for dogs. They provide a meaningful activity - allowing your dog to indulge in their natural senses by foraging for their food/treats. It is also a great way to help dogs relax and mentally decompress.
We often use and recommend a variety of snuffle mats, snuffle balls, and nose-work toys for our incoming dogs, especially those who are nervous and not yet ready to go outside. These activities provide a good confidence boost and decompression. Did you know 15 minutes of scent games can be more tiring than a 30 minute walk?
Seen here is a snuffle toy from our friends at OUMO Pet Shop helping a pup indulge in their natural foraging behavior. Oumo is a locally woman owned small business specializing in unique pet supplies. They are not only committed to providing quality products, but also a supportive member of the community, including ours! Oumo Pet Shop has been donating a portion of their profits since their launch last year. Check them out and get 10% your purchase with code FKD10!
Kimchi shows off her tricks
It's #mythbustermondays! - where we debunk the common myths, stereotypes, prejudices, and misconceptions surrounding dog meat survivors using real life examples from our very own alumni.
Myth 5: Dog meat rescues are un-trainable.
False.
Meet Kimchi. She is both the beauty AND the brains!
All dogs, no matter age or background, are capable of learning. Like humans, all dogs respond differently to different approaches and are motivated by different things. It is the human's role to build a strong relationship with their dog and establish a healthy, trustworthy working relationship with each other.
Although her list of tricks is impressive, Kimchi, who spent her entire life in cage with very limited experiences with outside world, and with people who likely were cruel rather than kind, has learned so much more. More importantly, she has learn to learn trust in both people and herself. She has learned to push her own boundaries and try new things. She has learned to conquer her fears. She has learned how to "be a dog".
Training goes both ways. As a human, it is our jobs to advocate for our dogs, manage the situation, play on their strengths and strengthen their weaknesses.
We're so proud of Kimchi and her fellow dog meat survivors. They are so inspiring. When times are tough we think we can't, our dogs know we can.
Follow @kimchip.by.the.gram on IG for more
Wally, dog meat trade survivor, now in his forever home
New Year, new perspectives 🧐
We're dedicating Mondays to debunk the common myths, stereotypes, prejudices, and misconceptions surrounding dog meat survivors using real life examples from our very own alumni. Welcome to #mythbustermondays!
Myth #1: Dog meat rescues have suffered so much trauma they can't be rehabilitated
Meet Wally (formally known as Gamza). When we rescued him from the Dangjin dog meat farm, he glued himself to the back of his rusty cage, terrified of what was about to happen next.
For months after his rescue, he was timid and shy. He struggled to make eye contact, never wagged his tail, would urinate himself in fear, and sat in bed all day, emotionally shutdown and inconsolable.
However, with time, patience, and an abundance of love, Wally knew he was safe to be himself without any fear. There was no special training or approach, Wally figured It out all on his own.
Today, Wally is the biggest snuggle muffin there is. He loves belly rubs, snuggling with humans, playing with other dogs, greeting neighbors, going on walks and hikes, rolling around in mud or in the snow, and getting into mischief (because he knows he's cute when he does it).
He has virtually become a whole new dog (although he's still afraid of the dark. But hey, darkness is scary 🙃). We are so immensely proud of him, but yet we never doubted his potential. If anything, he exceeded our expectations in more ways than one.
To read about his journey: https://www.freekoreandogs.org/the-wonderful-world-of-wally/
