Local SPCA rescues three dogs from meat farm in South Korea

WEST CHESTER » The Brandywine Valley SPCA said that it received three dogs that had been rescued from a South Korean dog meat farm. These dogs spent their lives confined in cages, with little access to adequate food and water, and no veterinary care, and now the BVSPCA will assist with their rehabilitation and placement with families.

The BVSPCA received these dogs as an Emergency Placement Partner for the Humane Society International (HSI) and the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS). They were among 50 dogs rescued by HSI from a dog meat farm in Namyangju, South Korea, in midJune, just before the Bok Nal summer season begins, during which more than one million dogs are eaten as “bosintang” soup. These three dogs are the only dogs from the rescue mission being placed in the greater Philadelphia area.

HSI has been working with farmers to shut down the dog meat farms and transition them to humane livelihoods, such as sustainable crop-growing businesses. The

farmer from this particular rescue will now expand his water parsley farm.

The dogs received at the BVSPCA include three Jindo mixes: one-year old Moose, one-year old Bella, and ninemonth old Sonia. These dogs have been at an emergency shelter in Montreal, Canada, since their mid-June rescue and transport from Korea. There they received medical care and began the evaluation and rehabilitation process. Now with the BVSPCA, the dogs have been evaluated and will be available for placement starting Friday according to their individual needs, after being spayed/neutered.

Bella, the most adjusted, will be available for adoption on Friday to a family experienced with undersocialized dogs. Sonia will be available for fostering, ideally with a family with another dog. Moose, the most fearful, will be available for fostering with a family experienced with undersocialized dogs. Families interested in fostering should email info@ bvspca.org.

“We’re proud to be entrusted with helping these dogs reach the ultimate goal of a forever family. They’re sweet, beautiful beings that we can’t wait to see blossom as they continue to learn what a life of love has to offer,” said Adam Lamb, Chief Executive Officer. Lamb continued, “Helping dogs locally, nationally, and even internationally, when appropriate, receive the extra behavior rehabilitation needed to overcome adoption barriers is what inspired us to open our Rescue & Rehab Center.”

The BVSPCA Rescue & Rehab Center is expected to open in early 2019. Located in Georgetown, Delaware, the facility is a former animal sanctuary located on 13 acres that the BVSPCA is repairing and outfitting to help animals currently on the fringe of adoptability prepare for adoption. The center will include a behavior center, a kitten nursery, housing for pending cruelty cases, and an intake center for emergency placements and transfers of at-risk animals from other shelters.

The BVSPCA needs the community’s support to expand its work on behalf of animals needing more of a bridge to adoption. Donations to the Rescue & Rehab Center can be made at www.bvspca.org/rescue-rehab or by mail to: Brandywine Valley SPCA, 1212 Phoenixville Pike, West Chester, PA 19380.