Three weeks ago, San Diego Humane Society admitted 30 dogs and puppies rescued from the deplorable conditions of a Korean dog meat farm. Ten of the rescued pups will be available for adoption on Friday, March 18, at the San Diego Campus located at 5500 Gaines St. All of the dogs have been treated for any medical issues, vaccinated, micrcochipped and spayed or neutered.
Professional trainers and animal care staff at San Diego Humane Society’s Behavior Center, one of only two such facilities in the nation, are caring for the remaining dogs. The Behavior Center was established in 2013 to help shy or fearful dogs gain confidence for easier transition as pets.
Volunteer foster families are also invited to help foster these remaining 20 dogs to help them assimilate into a normal home environment. Anyone with experience rehabilitating shy or fearful dogs are asked to contact our Foster Department at (619) 299-7012 ext. 2905 for more information.
As part of a rescue program of Humane Society International (HSI), San Diego Humane Society’s Special Response Team transported the dogs from San Francisco to San Diego on Feb. 20, after they had traveled from South Korea. Similar to conditions found in puppy mills and factory farms, the dogs have been living in filthy, cramped cages for their entire lives with very little food or veterinary care. Many suffer from disease and malnutrition and most are subject to daily cruelty. T
here are a variety of breeds, including Tosas (similar to Korean Mastiffs), Golden Retrievers and Huskies, ranging from 6 months to 2 years old.
“Helping to end the horrors of the dog meat trade is a critical mission for us,” says Dr. Gary Weitzman, president and CEO of San Diego Humane Society. “We have pledged to keep San Diego at zero euthanasia of healthy and treatable animals – and we will keep that promise – but that doesn’t mean we will ever turn our backs on other animals in need.”
This is the second rescue partnership for San Diego Humane Society with HSI. San Diego Humane Society’s Special Response Team will continue working on rescue efforts like these according to Chief of Humane Law Enforcement Steve MacKinnon, “The purpose of the Special Response Team is to be able to rescue animals in their greatest time of need. We’re happy we could do that.”
Visit www.sdhumane.org for more information.