This is not a rescue story yet. But KARA members are working out some strategies to make it one.

Status: FAILED

Close to the Baek Je Tomb Park in Jamshil and along a busy street, and passed by many people on this busy sidewalk, is this entrance to a steel yard. See the steel boxes and bars in the middle, surrounded by metal junk? There are two large dogs in there.

You can only just make out the one on the left, peering out of the darkness. The dog is watching the every move of the steel yard owner. Is the dog hungry? Below is the dog on the right, laying down.

When these picture taken, the owner was working, off to the left, unaware. He likely made these cages on site, but it's as if he has overdone it, used too much steel in their construction. There is something almost pathological about the way he is confining these dogs. They can hardly move in there.

Surrounded by steel, paws poke out of a thin slot, the dog inside leaped up with intense with curiosity, desperate for attention.

Their barren environment. It was thought they might be guard dogs, let out at night. However, a KARA member tapped the entrance gate one night to get their attention and heard them still in their prison cages.

Below is the steel yard location:

Here is a close up:

So, there is two examples of Korean culture side by side, the high culture of ancient history and the low culture of animal neglect and abuse.

Update, September 7, 2009:

The following are some close-up pictures taken with a handphone. The KARA member who took them, Yuni, went to talk to the steel yard owner. She couldn't rest after seeing the dogs in their predicament. She was rather nervous at the prospect of a confrontation and took some drinks as a kind of gift.

(This photo shows how little space the dogs have. The conditions are no different to what dogs suffer on dog farms.)

Fortunately, for Yuni the steel yard owner was pleasantlydecl surprised to receive the free drinks. "What are these for? Why...?" he said (in Korean). Yuni replied that he she admired his dogs and saw that it was a hot day, and he was working so hard, so she just wanted to offer a cool drink.

The owner let down his guard a bit. Yuni then got down to business and asked if he ever took the dogs out for walks? She noted that, "Their eyes are always following your every move. They could use a bigger space." And then, feeling braver, she asked, "Would you consider giving them up for adoption? Is there any way I could help out?"

(What is disturbing about these photos is that it appears the dogs do not have any water)

The owner was not confrontational and answered, "No. I don't have the time to take them out for walks. They are very strong and they aren't ones that people raise in their homes."

He then said that the eyes of the dogs follow him cause they probably want something to eat. (Oh, then maybe feed them!)

He then said, "Only after they have litters. Puppies. One is only 6 months when I got her and the other is 6 years old. One got burned badly. (Maybe this is the reason she/he had loss of hair on the ears and the purple patches on her/his leg.)

To the last question he answered he would accept some help raising them.

(Dog poo can be seen at the back of the cage. All this dog has to stand on is wire mesh. There does not appears to be any water in the cages.)

The statement the owner made about the dogs not being the kind "people raise in their homes" sounds ominously like the kind of excuses dog traders use. However, his last comment on accepting help could be the foot in the door towards giving these poor dogs a better life. He seems at least to be reasonable person, though obviously clueless about dogs.

It is also sad to know that the dogs never get out of their prisons. A disgraceful situation and exactly as we had suspected.

Yuni went to pat the dogs, worried that they might be vicious. But no, they bowed their heads low to be petted. According to Yuni, they were the sweetest dogs ever. Perhaps after being so long in such cages the dogs' spirits are broken. They must be so depressed.

The next step is that KARA members will return to have another talk with the steel yard guy, and hopefully, they can educate him further. We will keep you updated here.

Update, September 15, 2009:

On Monday, September 14, 2009, Monday, KARA members Jinkyung and Yuni headed over to the steel yard to perform a huge task of dog poo cleaning. It was a dirty job because the poo had really piled up under the dogs' cages.

The dogs have long been suffering the in a noxious environment and Jinkyung and Yuni worked feverishly to clean their cages and set up new tiles and partial wooden flooring that the dogs could sit and lay on.

Although the Steelyard had three male workers, they were so busy that all they did was to watch from a distance. The fortunate thing for the two dogs was that the owner talked cordially with Jinkyung and Yuni. He gave them the freedom to go about the cleaning business for the day, and he offered to take out the heap of dung-filled sacks. Jinkyung asked for a shovel and the owner brought one. He also said they could use the water hose. He helped them remove the dog's water bowls to clean.

The dogs were taken out of their cages and tied in the steelyard work area. They were so happy. They romped around, jumping and playing joyfully together.

With the shovel in hand, Yuni scraped and scooped up tens of shovel loads of dung after dung, while Jinkyung held a large plastic bag open for filling. She laughed at how distraught Yuni looked, occasionally facing the sky and gasping for fresh air to cleanse her nostrils and airways. Once the shovelling was done, they used the water hose to hose down the remaining muck and dung off the steel dung plates. They had brought some disinfectant and bleach to clean the dung plates the best they could.

They then put the tiles and wooden flooring inside their cages. Jinkyung took the steel wall divider and put it aside. That way, at least the two dogs could rub their noses together and look at each other in their confinement. Luckily, the owner didn't seem to notice the change or even if he did, he didn't say anything.

The owner was all smiles as he invited Jinkyung and Yuni in for coffee, though they declined, not having the time or stomach for it. They asked if they could take the dogs out for walks and to get bathed and the owner said yes. So, that's the next task.

When it was time to put the dogs back in their clean cages, the younger of them looked in wonder and surprise at the steel dung plate--perhaps he was confused at being shown kindness. Now they don't have to breath in the stench 24 hours a day.

(Jinkyung with the hose)

The owner was a different person than when he was first met. He was very cooperative, which made everything easier. In the beginning, though, he was indifferent. He would repeatedly say: "Those dogs are not pets. They are hunting dogs. They are so strong, you couldn't walk them. They will chase after cats or whatever and kill them." But the dogs are the gentlest, sweetest dogs ever. It is a miracle they survived that kind of a horrific unsanitary environment.

The owner said he takes them to run free in the mountains and even lets them out to run at the steelyard. That may or may not be true.

Jinkyung gave the owner her business card and invited him to her pharmacy, to which he replied he did need some medicine. Jinkyung proposed to the owner to make the living quarters of the dogs better by remodeling and using fences so they will can live on the ground and have space to move about. The owner of the dog said, first of all, he needs a new rainproof roof for the cages.

Jinkyung also took a look at the dog food and remarked at the low quality of the stuff, saying that it was no wonder the dogs pooed so much. There was no nutritional value in the food they were getting.

The next step in helping these dogs is as follows: providing them with a new roof (first and foremost), and later give them more space with fences and dog houses. That all requires money. And they need new higher quality, nutritious dog food. Oh, and of course they should get a bath and some walks.

Update, September 22, 2009:

Some more pics of Yuni cleaning on another day.

The worry with these dogs is that in a couple of months winter will be here.

A friend of Yuni's came along and helped put together some better boarding outside a hardward store for the dogs to sit on.

Here you can get a better of idea of where the dogs are caged in relation to the sidewalk and road. Hopefully better housing can be arranged in this area before the winter.

Update, October 26, 2009:

Little has changed. Most recently The young black and white female in the cages was observed with a light orange collar. She was jumping wildly and erratically. The reason was that another collar had been put on her, an anti-barking collar that was so tight it was strangling her. It was loosened but just enough so the steel yard guy would not notice, in case he might want to tighten it again.

At this point, building them a new premises is second to just wanting to get them the hell out of there. We may just pay the steel-yard person and be done with it. It might be an idea to buy the cages and take them away as well.

Update, November 11, 2009:

It also turns out that there is a partner in the business and he seems more sympathetic to the dog problem. He is the nicer of the two owners.

He was approached to help sell the idea of an offer to buy the dogs from the other partner. However, the partner said he did not want to sell them but would accept a new shelter for them being built. He said they were expensive dogs.

It is a strange statement to make considering that he keeps his expensive dogs in the most appalling prison-like conditions where they wallow in their own waste. At this stage, the impression is that he is laughing at us. He knows the law is on his side because there is no law worth much in Korea for animals. We are running out of ideas.

Yuni went there today to clean the cages. She spoke to the owner about new dog houses and the owner said it wasn't really necessary for now. He had changed his mind. He said the dogs possibly would be moving to another location. Yuni said he could take the new dog houses with him. He said he didn't want to burden anyone with the expense of new dog houses.

He said he would call if he needed anything. Yuni then went about her cleaning. She found the older one had learned not to poo on his new wood mat but the young one hadn't. But when Yuni cleaned the mat, the young dog laid right down on it. I guess a wood base is better than living on wire 24 hours a day.

They had no dog food but whatever they had been eating was giving them horrible acidic smelling stools. They are probably getting feed the cheapest garbage. Yuni gave them some treats.

Well, the problem here is that the dogs could be moved where no one can see them or have a hope of improving their lives. This whole sad situation has been highly aggravating for us.

Update, November 15, 2009:

Because the cold is setting in, Yuni and a friend went around and put up some plastic to give protection from cold winds, which blow straight into the cages.

Update, November 19, 2009:

KARA's manager and Yuni went to see the steel yard people to discuss the new dog compound and persuade them to take it. They also showed pictures of what a new dog living quarters would look like. Some decent dog food was delivered as well.

The wife of the owner was there and when she saw the picture of the new dog house, she exclaimed "What is wrong with the dogs living the way they do now? Aren't they supposed to live like that?"

This is the level of ignorance that is still found in Korea. This kind of ignorance is at heart of so many animal welfare issues. It is not that people intend to be cruel, it is that they are totally clueless and blind to the reality of other living things.

The nicer of the partners in the business said they would be happy with the building of a new dog house. Hopefully that settles the matter.

Update, November 21, 2009:

Yuni paid a visit to the steel yard and was told by the uncooperative partner that he was not interested in a new dog cage and that he doesn't want to see her or anyone else back there again. He said he would keep the dogs how he wanted to without interference.

Despite this setback, the order has been given to the dog house maker to go ahead and make a dog house. Here is a proposal:

It would be a larger version of this:

But it would have wire on the deck area for easier cleaning, given the environment we are up against.

Other dog house can be seen on the builder's website here. They aren't cheap.

Update, December 23, 2009:

Mr. Jung, KARA's manager, facing the prospect of asking the dog owner to improve conditions, while at the same time knowing that he is powerless with Korea's animals protections laws as they stand.

Unfortunately, after Mr. Jung's visit--the first time a man has spoken to the steel yard owner--things deteriorated. The dog owner demanded that no one visit the steel yard premises again and that the dogs are to be left alone. This means that the dog owner has no intention of improving the conditions the dogs live in and does not want anyone else doing so either.

He is a summary of rejection so far:

• An offer was made to purchase the dogs from steel yard owner. This was rejected.
• An offer was made to build a new and larger dog house at no expense to the owner. This was rejected.
• The manager of the animal rights group KARA visited the owner to seek improvements. This was rejected.

When one person did go back, she saw piles of dog poo in the cages with some floating in a dog's water bowl. She was told not to come again by a steel yard employee.

Clearly, the steel yard owner is guilty of willful neglect in rejecting all offers of help and not trying to improve the lives of these dogs. The purposeful and willful neglect of animals in this way suggests that he is unfit to care for animals and may have a psychological problem.

This constitutes willful abuse, but because he is not physically harming the dogs, we are powerless because the Korean Animal Protection law is so inadequate.

Utterly frustrated, a KARA member went to the police station across the road from the steel yard. A sympathetic police officer took the details and later phoned the steel yard owner's wife to ensure that something was done.

This got an almost immediate response because later that day it was discovered that the dogs and their cage were gone! At first there was panic, as it was feared the dogs were moved out into the country. Later in the day the police officer said that the dogs had been moved further into the steel yard.

The only hope is that they are in a warmer location. But now their condition cannot be monitored. The police officer, however, said that he will check up on the dogs when on patrol.

Today, another police officer got involved when Yuni returned to the station to check up on things. That officer actually visited the owner and explained that the dogs should be in better conditions. The owner made the excuse that the dogs were used to being raised the way they are--yet another moronic excuse.

But the police have been fantastic in all of this. One can't help but be impressed by their compassion and professionalism.

So, the saga continues. The owner continues to get away with his willful neglect and we continue to be powerless, but it isn't over.

Shit piled on the only boarding they have to get relief from the wires that constitute their flooring.

Update, January 1, 2010:

A few days ago, Yuni and a friend went to the Songpa district office to register a complaint about the conditions of the steel yard dogs. Officials visited the steel yard and spoke to employees there. The next day they spoke to the owner to get his side of the story.

After speaking to the owner, a district office official rang and said that the owner rejected any assistance from outsiders. The steel yard guy said to the official: "What is it to you how I raise my dogs?" The district officer said the conditions were terrible and the dog cages were filled with faeces. The dogs, in his opinion, looked depressed. They had no protection from the cold except for plastic sheeting.

The steel yard guy said he liked dogs and that was why he kept them. Of course, this statement is ludicrous in light of the neglect he is subjecting his dogs to.

Meanwhile, KARA has submitted a civil complaint against the steel yard owner to the Songpa district office. Here is a translation of the letter submitted:

Update, February 12, 2010:

The steel yard dogs have been sold! We don't know to whom they were sold or under what circumstances. The police officer handling the case relayed this information and also inspected the steel yard and confirmed that the dogs were no longer there. When pressed for more information, he said he could not delve any further into where the dogs went.

We are now currently trying to find out by other means where they went. It is hoped they have gone to a better life and not fallen into the clutches of another ignorant and uncaring hunter or worse, a dog meat trader.

This is has been a very frustrating and sad case--a very sorry reflection on how things stand in Korea, demonstrating the powerlessness of people who wish to do good and the liberties of ignorant people who think animal abuse is normal behavior.

It is no wonder people often have to take the law into their own hands in Korea when rescuing animals. In this case, we chose the legal path, and look where it got us.