Dogs rescued from South Korean meat farm brought to Colorado

Dogs rescued from a South Korean meat farm are adjusting to life at their temporary home in Fort Collins.

Humane Society International rescued 250 dogs from a South Korean meat farm. The dogs are being shipped to rescues across the U.S. The group is shipping 10 to the Larimer Humane Society. The shelter was chosen because it has a good working relationship with Humane Society International and it had space available.

“I am honored and kind of overwhelmed that we’re able to help with this situation,” Larmier Humane Society Executive Director Judy Calhoun said. “These dogs are, even in just less than 24 hours, really starting to come around. And they are beautiful animals.”

The Larimer Humane Society will care for five of the dogs and send the remaining to five to Animal House Rescue and Grooming and Black Dog Animal Rescue in Fort Collins.

The dogs were rescued from a meat farm in the same province as the 2018 Winter Olympics. The meat farm is the fifth to be shut down ahead of the Olympic games. Humane Society is rescuing the animals and helping farmers transition out of the dog trade. Calhoun said South Korean government is pitching in, eager to help clean up its image ahead of the Olympics. During the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia faced a lot of criticism over its handling of its stray dog population.

“The South Korean government knows there will be a lot of attention and they want that to be positive and after what happened in Sochi during the 2014 Olympics, they are particularly aware that they want some of their animal issues to be more positive then what occurred in Sochi,” said Calhoun.

Dog meat is used in a traditional South Korean holiday stew. Calhoun said the animals grew up in deplorable conditions, often spending their entire life confined to a small crate.

“It seems to me particularly sad the kind of conditions they were in. To me that’s, it’s almost harder than the fate, that they might have suffered,” said Calhoun.

The dogs that arrived at the Larmier Humane Society will receive behavioral and medical evaluations. Then the shelter will craft a plan for what the dog needs. Calhoun said there is no specific timeline for when the dog will get adopted; it will depend on the dog’s recovery. Calhoun said once a dog is adopted, the shelter will work with the new owner and show them tips on how to help care for and train the dog.