Cheongju City Rescues Dogs and Promotes Adoption with International Animal Protection Group
Actor Daniel Henney Assists with Dog Relocation
Dozens of dogs rescued from an illegal slaughter farm in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province, have been adopted to new families in the United States.
On May 8, Yonhap News reported that Cheongju City, in cooperation with the international animal protection organization Humane World for Animals, sent 68 dogs rescued from a dog farm in Heungdeok-gu for overseas adoption to the United States. On this day, 51 dogs departed for the United States via Incheon International Airport. The remaining 17 dogs, including puppies and mother dogs who are too young to travel by plane, will be cared for for about four more months and are scheduled to be sent overseas around the end of the year.
Previously, in February, Cheongju City received a report from an animal protection organization that dogs were being illegally slaughtered at Farm A in Heungdeok-gu. The city promptly conducted an on-site inspection and found evidence of cruel illegal slaughter, including the discovery of dog carcasses at the farm. The farm owner is known to have raised and slaughtered dogs for meat supply for over 40 years.
At the farm, 68 dogs were being kept, each confined in a small wire cage known as a "ddeun-jang." Most of them were Jindo mixes, and there were some puppies as well. The dogs found at the scene were in need of medical treatment, as many were suffering from malnutrition-related bone deformities and had not received proper food or care.
The city took ownership of the dogs from the farm owner and began to care for them. The rescued dogs were managed separately at the city's companion animal protection center and at Farm A, as the protection center did not have enough space to accommodate them all. Instead, staff members took turns visiting Farm A to feed the dogs in the morning and evening and provide care. During this process, one dog gave birth to puppies, some of whom were adopted domestically.
However, the rescued dogs were unable to find new families in Korea. During this time, the international animal protection organization Humane World for Animals expressed its intention to send the rescued dogs to the United States. A city official stated, "It is difficult to find adopters for dogs raised for meat. There is a strong preference for small dogs among domestic pet owners, which makes it hard to adopt out large dogs. If no adopters are found for a long time, euthanasia may become inevitable, so this was a very welcome proposal for the city."
Afterward, the city worked with the animal protection organization to prepare the dogs for overseas adoption by administering comprehensive vaccines, rabies shots, and COVID-19 vaccinations. On this day, the dogs were able to depart for the United States via Incheon Airport. Actor Daniel Henney also participated in the process of transporting the dogs. Daniel Henney has adopted and raised a retriever rescued from a domestic dog farm and has long supported Humane World for Animals.
Kim Sangjin, head of Cheongju City's animal protection team, said, "The farm owner has been reported for violating the Animal Protection Act, and the farm has been closed. We will continue to do our best for animal welfare in the future."
The Cheongju City Companion Animal Protection Center protects about 1,300 abandoned animals annually. Of these, 20% are returned to their original owners, and 60% are adopted. Kim also stated, "Currently, the city operates a temporary protection program in which abandoned animals are fostered in general households for two months before adoption is decided. We provide support for medical expenses at the time of adoption, as well as for vulnerable groups. We hope people will choose adoption over purchasing pets and take an interest in our animal welfare programs."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
