East Asia

Re: Jindo rescue

Bramble — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 05:55:53 GMT

Hi David, I'm sorry for the late reply ... and even more sorry that I haven't really done anything to help Jindos since I last wrote. I travelled to Canada in August to deliver my little foster dog to his new adoptive home, and I got some really bad news a few days later. :(

I've been back in Korea for a while and I should have moved on these issues long before now, but I'm a bit worried about my own dog ... there's been a lot of change and stress in her life recently, and she's been having accidents in the apartment. When she gets stressed, I get stressed, and then I don't sleep and I get incredibly tired.

In 2002 I spent a few months as a volunteer at Animal Refuge Kansai (near Osaka) and it was great to get to know the animals there. Then from 2006 to 2007 I spent a year in Tochigi Prefecture as an assistant language teacher, and I had to ask ARK and Angels With Fur for assistance with some animal emergencies. There were a lot of "feral" cats in the neighbourhood who didn't seem feral at all. In Seoul, most cats won't approach humans and will run away, but in Japan there was a starving cat in my parking lot who meowed all night and followed me into my apartment in the morning. I spent a lot of money to help him, but I also had to ask ARK to find a home for him. I didn't know what to do when I found another friendly stray a few months later, and he just disappeared one day. Around the same time I asked a clinic to board a stray kitten for me, and they eventually did me a huge favour by waiving all fees and adopting her out. But they said they could only do it once ...

I'm close to Seoul now, and there's a huge network of animal people here that includes many English-speaking foreigners. Of course there are Korean rescue groups too. I feel as if there are a lot more volunteer opportunities now, and there's also a lot more support in difficult situations. I'm in a slightly better situation than I was in Japan, and I've been able to help a bit more instead of having to ask others to do everything.

But things aren't perfect either ... the shelter where I'm volunteering has some diseases going around, and I think we're all worried. I'm more aware of what's going on and what needs to be done and that's good, but it's upsetting not to be able to help my friends more after getting to know them personally.

Thanks again for the ideas ...

Re: Jindo rescue

Bramble — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 00:43:06 GMT

That's amazing. I don't think I could ever plunge in full-time like that ... It would just drive me insane. I was in Tochigi Prefecture and felt pretty isolated, but it's a nice country and a lot of people were very helpful. I'll try to write more later ...

Re: Jindo rescue

Japancatnet2 — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 11:34:37 GMT

hey Bramble, It's a small world ;-) From Japan to Korea - I'm curious about any comparisons you might have to share. Where in Japan were you? Finding homes is our biggest challenge - I don't want to act like we are so good at it but we are getting better. We are behind where I hoped we'd be this time of year. We did better last year. We try to post on Japanese sites and directly in English publications and networks. We put up some youtube videos. I'm hoping that will have more appeal. One of our big problems is time (and energy). My wife and I have full time jobs and then have what amounts to each having a second full time job doing animal welfare. I'll check out your link when I get a litle time. cheers for now, David

Re: Jindo rescue

Bramble — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 05:41:25 GMT

David, thanks for the ideas. I think you may have been one of the people who provided helpful advice when I lived in Japan and found myself unprepared to deal with a couple of stray cat emergencies. That was very decent of you, and I appreciate it.

I have been visiting the shelter as part of a volunteer network, and the organizers have done amazing work to place homeless animals. They have cooperated with one of the military bases here, and there are a few bilingual people in the network (but not enough, unfortunately). I don't want to imply that no one is doing anything for homeless animals in Korea, but I do feel very bad for the Jindos who've been waiting so long.

In addition to the people I correspond with now, I made contact with some good Korean animal people between 2000 and 2004 or so ... unfortunately, I've lost touch with many of them over the years and have had a hard time re-establishing those ties. The language barrier has been a big problem, and a few years ago I also did some work for a group that wasn't well-liked. (I sometimes suspect I've been blacklisted for that reason.)

There's one Korean animal advocate I still keep in touch with from the old days, and I plan to ask for an update the next time I see her. You're right that I need to do a better job of seeking out new contacts, but I'm not exactly a people person. However, I'll keep your suggestions in mind and will work to build a new network in the hope that it might help these poor dogs. (Joining the Best Friends network was a first step ...)

By the way, I edited my signature because the link doesn't seem to work with the "www" for some reason. If you delete that part and go to http://red-dog.blogspirit.com, the page should come up.

Re: Jindo rescue

Japancatnet2 — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 17:23:17 GMT

As an American in Japan I can appreciate what it takes to help animals in a foreign culture. I could ask the same question myself (how to better find homes for rescued animals) but for now I'll share some things that have helped us and maybe other people have tips for both of us. ;-) !. Create a network. Search the net, watch for animal conferences in Korea, and find other ways to connect to people doing something good for animals in Korea, even if it is not the same as what you are doing, and even if it is not dogs. You'll find support and info from those kind of folks. 2. Seek out bilingual people who believe in the effort to help animals. They can help open doors for you, and get access more easily to vital information. 3. We have made a connection to some of the foreign military bases in Japan. On bases they want to promote "family life" and part of that means having a pet. If you can get an "in" it could lead to new homes. (hey - I noticed the red-dog link doesn't work for me). all the best, David

Re: Discuss Japan

Japancatnet2 — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 07:12:39 GMT

Hi Elizabeth, Should all my posts about Japan stay on this thread, or should I start a new one for each different Japan related topic? thanks, David

Discuss Japan: The Cove (a documentary about Dolphin killing)

Japancatnet2 — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 03:53:21 GMT

The Cove , a documentary about the annual dolphin kill in Taiji Japan, will start opening in US theaters on July 31. See them on Facebook; http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=56760414952#/group.php?gid=59506167641&ref=mf As I think the film will indicate, the Japanese public is quite unaware of the killing. I'm hoping the movie will come to Japanese theaters as well, but I suspect I'll have to wait til th DVD. If anyone has a chance to see please post your thoughts. thanks, David Japan Cat Network

Re: Discuss Japan

Japancatnet2 — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 11:23:04 GMT

Greetings from Japan...! We are a registered NPO in Japan helping people help cats, doing TNR, rescuing and rehoming cats and kittens. Our website is at; http://www.japancatnet.com/ If anyone reading this is in Japan or wants to discuss animal welfare in Japan, that would be great. thanks, David

Jindo rescue

Bramble — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 08:39:45 GMT

Hi everyone,

I'm a Canadian living in Korea, and over the past year and a half or so I've had a chance to do some volunteer work at shelters here. Through my volunteer work I've gotten to know many really wonderful dogs, including some Jindos and Jindo mixes. I can't tell you how great these dogs are ... a few are unapproachable, but most are super friendly. I can't believe some have been in shelters most of their lives.

Many dogs from the shelter have been adopted out through a local rescue group, and an overseas rescuer has placed quite a few of the smaller dogs, but I don't think she can help with the big ones. The local rescue group is having a very, very difficult time finding homes for Jindos.

The shelter does its best, and my friends may be better off than many Jindos who have homes (because so many are chained up outside and never get any attention). Even so, they need real homes. There's an English Web site and I've advertised some of them there, but very few people have replied. I tried advertising them on Facebook and had no luck there either. Recently I wrote to a dog trainer I used to work with, and he says he doesn't know anyone who can spell Jindo or knows it's a breed of dog.

Does anyone here have any ideas? I've written to a group called the Jindo Project and am still waiting to hear back from them. I've also scanned a list of no-kill shelters that I found at another site, but no one seems to specialize in Jindos (and I wouldn't try to arrange an overseas adoption unless the group was very, very reliable). I had some contacts in Korean animal protection groups a few years ago, but there's really only one person I still keep in touch with. I plan to ask her the next time I see her, but I have a feeling the group she's involved with is struggling with the same issues.

Note: I've moved around a lot during my time here. Because I didn't have a plan I've picked up bits of the language here and there, but haven't really made much progress. If I'd known how long I was staying, I would have tried harder. Researching local groups and trying to get support is going to be a real uphill struggle for a million reasons.

I'm sorry if this sounds pessimistic, but I wouldn't be asking if I didn't want solutions. I'm just really stuck ... I feel that there has to be a way to help these dogs because so many Koreans like Jindos, and they're one of the country's national treasures. So where are all the Jindo rescue groups?

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Resources

admin — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 09:06:59 GMT

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Discuss Thailand : News & Petition: Phuket Trash Men Darting Dogs - Please Read & Sign

deafk9s — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 15:49:06 GMT

Phuket, a paradise on earth, the pearl of the Andaman Sea, a tropical paradise,

Not for those dogs who live here on the streets and beaches of Phuket, in a new local government sanctioned operation, dogs that are deemed to be stray are being darted and tranquilized by untrained garbage disposal employees and then dumped in the back of a garbage truck to be driven around in the heat of the sun until the end of the day when they are then taken to the Government Dog Pound at Mid Road, many do not make it and most die from tranquilizer overdose or from heat.

Read the full details here and please consider signing the petition to stop this. http://www.petitiononline.com/PPDFSE/petition.html

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