BY CATHY COTTRILL
All Photos Courtesy of Dennis Guyitt
A local animal rescue organization is spreading the word about the plight of dogs in Korea and networking with people in that country to bring golden retrievers here so they can be adopted and live happy lives.
It all started with a dog named Sky.
In late 2014, when volunteers with Golden Retriever Rescue of Southwest Florida got word of a purebred female golden retriever living at a dog-meat farm in Seoul, South Korea, they were shocked. Determined to change the dog’s destiny, they raised funds, networked with animal rescuers in Korea and arranged to have the dog — named Sky — shipped to the United States. She arrived Jan. 25, 2015, and promptly became a media sensation and a symbol for the anti-dog-meat movement that is sweeping Asia.
“We can’t change the world, but we can change the world for one golden retriever,” said GRRSWF board member Mark Dahlberg. Today, Sky lives with her adoptive family in Valrico, Fla., and is a therapy dog.
Since then, the rescue has saved 18 more dogs from Korea.
“You would be amazed at how healthy, friendly and well adjusted these goldens are despite everything they had to overcome in their short lives,” said Dahlberg, of Fort Myers, who now holds the title of international rescue coordinator. “They truly represent what is called ‘the golden spirit.’”
Mr. Dahlberg feels strongly about the rescue’s role in raising awareness about the plight of dogs in other cultures.
“We have come to learn so much more about how various other countries and cultures view pet ownership. Although GRRSWF will continue its mission here in Southwest Florida and is often the rescue of last resort for many senior and sick goldens, our international goldens are at no less risk,” he said.
According to Dahlberg, homeless dogs in South Korea are either euthanized or sold to a meat farm. Oftentimes they have less than 48 to 72 hours in a city pound before that decision is made.Because of that rapid death sentence, Mr. Dahlberg has worked to forge bonds with rescuers in Korea who can get the dogs to safety until they can be flown to the United States. He is also helping to educate future generations about the role dogs play as family members in western societies.
“It will take a generation or two before the approach toward domestic animals changes in some countries,” he said. “I have learned that the pictures that we forward back to the volunteers overseas depicting the joy and happiness these dogs are now experiencing are shared with grade-school children. As a result, these same students are raising money to buy towels and blankets for dogs in the shelters.”
Each time GRRSWF brings a golden over from Korea, the rescue’s Facebook page chronicles the dog’s journey, starting with the initial rescue to a safe shelter in Korea, followed by photographs of the dog’s journey in albums titled “Coming to America.” Each story concludes with an adoption photo.
The adoption fee for the Korean dogs is $650. Each dog is fully vaccinated, mirochipped and spayed or neutered. With shipping costs topping $1,000 per dog, many of the dogs have been sponsored by benefactors. Dahlberg is working to set up a separate sister nonprofit group that will become a funding source for the Korean dogs.
Alesia Griffith of Estero, the rescue’s president, recently adopted a Korean arrival named Bo Gibbs.
“GRRSWF is proud to be involved in this endeavor,” she said. “Saving dogs in desperate need is what we do, no matter where they come from.”
For more information on GRRSWF, visit grrswf.org, follow the group on Facebook or call 369-0415. Based in Naples and serving all of southwest and central Florida, the rescue is a 501c3 and all donations are tax-deductible.