Dog rescue program Korea

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The Korea Times 02-23-2006 21:49

 

Scottish Expat to Create Animal Rescue Group

By Chris Brockie, Contributing Writer

 

Scottish expatriate David Peacock sits with his three rescued dogs: a

Chindo named Cindy; Duke, a Chindo-Poongsang mix; and Gabby, a

one-eyed Shi Tzu. Cindy is the inspiration for Peacock's plan to

establish an animal rescue and education program in Korea. The

program is to be called CINDY - Canines In Need Deserve You.

 

Canines In Need Deserve You (CINDY) is the brainchild of Scottish

expatriate David Peacock and his wife Catherine.

 

The organization is named after the first dog they rescued, a female

Chindo, which has come to symbolize their future in Korea and the

planned organization.

 

In recent years the Itaewon-based couple have been rescuing injured

or abused animals and finding homes for them. They now plan to

develop a non-profit organizationto assist rescuing and rehoming

unwanted pets in Korea.

 

They also plan to educate Koreans about the humane treatment of

animals as pets.

 

" We have no plans to leave Korea and, with the aid of a newfound

friend, have recently started to develop a plan to create a

non-profit organization which aims to contribute to the welfare of

animals, primarily dogs as this appears to be the most significant

issue at present, in Korea by educating people about the humane

treatment of pets and by assisting with the rescue efforts of

unwanted animals in Korea, " Peacock said.

 

Cindy, the first dog they rescued, represents the animal face of the

planned organization.

 

" Cindy, short for Cinderella as a result of her transformation from a

dirty, skinny and unhealthy wretch into a beautiful Princess, was the

first dog we rescued, " Peacock said.

 

" A traditional South Korean Chindo, she was owned by an " ajoshi " who

works a small newspaper distribution service. Tied up outside through

all kinds of weather with only scraps of kimchi-stew and little or no

water, my wife and I passed her daily for a few months and secretly

fed her decent food at night. It's not that the owner didn't care

about her; he just didn't know how to care 'for' her. After seeing us

bond with the scrawny bitch, the owner eventually, using body

language, encouraged us to take her, all part of our plan, " Peacock

said, smiling.

 

" With the aid of a Korean friend, we asked if she had received all

her necessary shots and were assured that she had. Unconvinced,

mainly because of her pitiful weight, we took her to a local

veterinary clinic for a check up, " Peacock added.

 

According to Peacock, vets at Itaewon's Chung Hwa Animal Hospital

found life-threatening problems in the dog and the cost of having her

put back to good health cost over a million won.

 

Since Cindy's rescue, the Peacocks have rescued and placed around 20

animals, including three cats.

 

Among these they not only kept Cindy but two other dogs, a

Chindo-Poongsan mix, named Duke, and a one-eyed Shi Tzu, named Gabby

after the British female vocalist, Gabrielle, who, due to an eye

problem, was renowned for her sequined eye-patch during the early

part of her career.

 

" Ultimately, we would like to establish an animal rescue center but

realize this is a long way down the line and will be determined

largely by the response of the general public to a campaign we intend

launching in the near future, " Peacock said. " We are currently

seeking volunteers and sponsorship in order to proceed with CINDY. "

 

Aside from producing educational pamphlets in both Korean and

English, the couple intend visiting schools with the dogs to help

educate children about how to and how not to treat animals.

 

" We also plan to set up a network of people interested in

contributing in some way. We are also looking for an appropriate

Internet domain through which we aim to make CINDY more accessible, "

he added.

 

Peacock also praised their vet, Dr. Kwon, at Chung Wha Animal

Hospital, in Itaweon.

 

" Dr. Kwon saved the lives of all three of our dogs and has been a

real inspiration in our efforts to improve the welfare of animals in

Korea, " he said.

 

Dr. Kwon, an excellent English speaker according to Peacock, works at

Itaewon's Chung Wha Animal Hospital where about fifty percent of the

clientele is non-Korean: " A testimony to the excellent service they

provide to the ex-pat community in Seoul, " Peacock added.

 

People interested in helping can contact Peacock on chindoclub.

 

 

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