Sylvia's Diary 17-04-25

Paperwork and worries.

Is it because I am tired that I am so tearful? I am not sure, but everything is getting me down. I have a vision of how the rescue should run, how it should look, how the animals should spend their days, and how we can make the place better. When the plans fail for various reasons this week, I just feel tearful, full of woe and defeated. I guess my reward for working hard is seeing the dogs go to new homes, but the last few weeks that just has not happened, resulting in a very sad backlog of dogs.

The amount of calls for dogs needing spaces has only increased and definitely have not decreased. The local pound is calling more often now, and the people who’ve tried every avenue come to us, only to find there’s no space. It’s appalling. On Sunday after a three week wait and over 53 calls to other rescues Jack came to us. He is an extremely intelligent, busy and motivated dog. He is ball obsessed; therefore, you’d have a very easy lure for training. If you are an experienced handler this dog could be a top-class agility or flyball dog, but he’s not so straight forward. So, 53 other rescues gave the owner a thumbs down, with no offer of a space later. He was doomed to die, however, his owner who just was not experienced enough for a dog like Jack, who had really tried, just could not stop trying for him, even though he and his wife knew that with a young family this just was not working. Jack finally got his break as he was needing a space so urgently. I know he won’t find a home easily, he is very busy and when he gets bored, he chases shadows to amuse himself. The people who should have taken him seem to wait, holding out until their friend’s champion dogs are bred, hoping for a pup that might be a champion too, it seems.

However, There are some great trainers out there who would really understand what drives Jack and know how to channel it in the right way. That kind of guidance would make him a truly happy boy. So, if you’re one of those people, why not foster Jack and help him take his first steps toward a better life?

As usual we have had a lot of desperate dogs coming to us. A beautiful and smart 6-month Collie, a darling and very pregnant Poodle who delivered her pup’s had retained a placenta, and had to have surgery but luckily survived. One pup so tiny that it is a miracle it survived, and then another who has come with (at the moment) what appears to be healthy kicking pups growing inside… please I pray God they remain that way. I recorded a video for you to see for yourself. 

Every day is a mystery to what will happen, and as it unfolds more and more dramas arise. I do my very best for the dogs, cats, horses, bats, yes, terrapins and whatever needs help, and yes I stop and pick up every worm snail and slug crawling on the road too. Like the dogs I am sensitive, and cruel words hurt. The weeks have been what I can only describe as a sleepless trial. But I survived!

Others have not been so lucky. A lady turned up with her daughter and her daughter’s dog. The daughter had to leave her own home and had been offered a space in a place that did not take dogs. The dog was a large XL Bully, she was obviously unhappy with her tail between her legs, mistrustful, and had probably seen the worst of mankind. I looked at her sad eyes and had to tell the owner that for the dog’s sake it was kinder she cuddled her in the vets and let the vet take her life, then left her with people she did not know, who would struggle with her to do the same. Euthanasia means death; it is taken from two Greek words. To me that needs to be in mind as well, not terrified, scared and defenseless… not a terrified dog being shot or held down. Anyway, the mum agreed and the three slowly walked away saying they understood. It’s a terrible position to be put in and terribly sad too.

Thinking back maybe that’s why I am so tearful; memories are hard to erase, even those so painful.

When Bill and I went to North Carolina it was to build a luxury boarding kennel and have an easier life. However, the new house was not ready and we had arrived with 9 dogs. The realtor put us up in her garage with camp beds, but soon offered us rooms with real beds, but I would not leave my dogs. In the day we walked many miles with our dogs, and for every mile we saw many stray dogs. We talked to the realtor about this and she told us about a Humane society that needed a director. I did not want the job but the more I learnt the more I needed to try and change things. And so I took the job. 

One day a raid was performed on an individual who had rescued over 100 dogs but was not coping. All dogs were removed in a relay by the sheriff dog catchers and others. As the poor things came in they lined up to die. The kennels only held 30 dogs and they were already full with other strays. Once they came in they only had three days before they died. All bar one was euthanized!!!! None murdered by me, all scared and shaking, all dead in black bin bags and taken to the landfill. 

This is why I work so hard. I have such demons and most of the time feel such a failure. I am assuming this is why this week made me so sad.

I took my grandchildren out for two hours, two hours of freedom from worry and fun I thought. However, all three of us ended up sad and disgusted. This is because as we waded in the water, that dogs love to romp in too, we found the most barbaric hooks that were designed to catch many small fish. If a dog had grabbed it gulping it down with a small fish it would be dead. Why is man so greedy, so irresponsible, so cruel? Neither me, a grown-up Syd 12, or Max 7 could get this out of our minds. Please see the picture, and if you’re a fisherman think before you use things like this, plus retrieve your trash!!!!

Promise, our severely brain damaged pup, who over the months has recovered amazingly, but still has a little way to go, and who is still not adopted. 

Besides just providing love, my grandchildren (especially Syd) have been saving a tiny mouse sized pup's life. She was born to Shiver, an apricot Poodle who had come in pregnant. We don’t know what the father was but this one pup was ¼ of the size of the rest of the litter, and though a fighter to survive, her other siblings pushed her out of the way to feed, so we had to tube her and check on her all the time. 

The second night her heated mat somehow went off, and it took us hours of care to recover her. Now with our help, 4 days on, though tiny she is doing well. Now, she is left with her mum and just supplement feeds. The staff started asking “How’s your runt?”, and like any foster mum, I feel protective and have decided that is not a good name for her. So, I have called her “Shine”, something I never do at this stage, as it just makes it even sadder if I lose her. 

I feel like a zombie as I am so tired, but so grateful she is alive and doing well, even though she is still so tiny. Last night, Chelsea offered to care for her, I was so excited to know I could sleep all night. Sadly, at 12 a vets called with a problem. It took an hour of back-and-forth phone calls, and then I could not sleep. Tearful again for so many reasons, I need to try to enjoy the day, and not be so sad for the future, as we don’t really know what the future will bring. 

I love that saying “yesterdays the past, tomorrows the future, but today is the present, so embrace it”.

Another huge disappointment this week came in the form of a three-line message from ITV Wales. They had called to say they were researching to make a four-part series on a rescue, about its work, its staff etc etc. I knew that this could help us so much. The former CEO of Battersea had told me after the late Paul O’Grady had done a series with Battersea, every one show brought in a million pounds. Worrying about funds is a huge headache for me. I thought the publicity, our facilities, our love of the inmates, could make great TV. So when the researcher came I gave it my all. In fact, over 4 hours of mine and others time. The few lines that came e-mailed to me were, basically that they had picked another rescue. I felt heart broken. I am pleased others will benefit, but here we get so few lucky breaks, it seems everything is just down to hard slog.

But for now, I will try to focus on the positive. 9 hours of paperwork and we are ready for the southern Irish dogs to pick up. 53 dogs, some ex-breeding dogs, some from families, some rescued from travellers, all passported and ready. Space reserved, but more needs making. All I can say is thank goodness 15 adoptions this weekend. But still, so many calls to coordinate and all to ensure it runs smoothly as can be. Now comes the checking of the chips the health certificates against my info, and all that’s needed to make sure no hiccups at customs. But 53 dog's lives were saved, that’s a really big deal, and it's because of all of you. So please enter our competition at the bottom, please support us. Please let me know I am not alone, because this week that’s how I feel.

Just when I felt I had the weight of the world on my shoulders Jin from Korea writes asking for help again. This next bit I write will make disturbing reading so please only read if you would like to. Jin is a volunteer at Ark rescue. Ark campaigns to stop the meat trade of dogs in Korea. There are said to be over 500 thousand dogs at present in the meat trade. If these guys had a wonderful shelter that everyone could visit and learn about the horrors, the dog lovers of the world could go and volunteer at, this trade would stop so much quicker. I asked her to write about Ark rescue and send pictures so here goes.

ARK shelter is probably the first shelter where all dogs are rescued from the dog meat farm. In Korea, dogs are bred for meat, which is not illegal. Many of them are unregistered and violate some sort of laws. But the fine is cheap so it is said we still have about 500k dogs in the meat farm.

In 2020, with the help of the animal rescue group CARE, the people have rescued 250 dogs from the dog meat farm. The 250 quickly grew to 280 with the newborn puppies.
All of them were living on human food – leftover food from the restaurants. Feeding the leftover food to the dog meat farm is not legal.

It was shocking when the water was given to them for the first time after the rescue. They drank literally, as if this was the first fresh water they had in life. None of them had fresh water before. They were given some leftover human food, boiled in the hot broth. And that's the only time they had any type of liquid. After about 5 years since the rescue, ARK still has about 110 dogs left in their care. Domestic adoption is scarce and South Koreans tend to have their dogs chained outside. These ARK dogs had the same fate as many of them. ARK shelter, however, defied the familiar belief and actively looked for the home, where soft dog bed and nice kibbles are ready, like any dogs – big or small.

With about 110 big dogs at the shelter, the food and the vet bills are always double or triple of the small ones. The space needed for the big paws is also double the size.
The monthly cost for the shelter is about 21K pounds. This might be small compared to Many Tears, but it’s a lot here in Korea. In a place where the animal shelters are least welcomed, we are simply happy to have some space with the roof over the head.

At present they pay 3k a month for rent for kennels. Jin said she wished they had daddy long legs (I think she means a sugar daddy).

To send each dog to us is £1000! They are run by volunteers and are an hour away from Seoul the capital and love having volunteers. Dogs in meat farms are not given water; they eat a soup of scraps with liquid. That's it. See the videos of first-time water for these dogs.

The dogs live with no bedding exercise or stimulation in wire crates with wire floors, legs get broken, pups get stuck and die in a horrible way.

The climate is… Summers are hot and humid, while winters are cold and dry. Spring and autumn are mild but short-lived.

Many of the dogs at the shelter have waited over 5 years for a home.

Ark is struggling….. This week any money raised from this diary will be shared with Many Tears and Ark. I am desperate to build our cattery, but Ark is desperate too. 

I have said we will help two more dogs. Two thousand pounds more for Ark to raise, Or WE can try to all chip in and help.???

Please see the videos, understand the worry, and maybe donate a little, or buy a lottery ticket for them. These are NOT cute fluffy babies to rescue, these are meat dogs bred for the trade, but they deserve a life too and do make good grateful friends! Ark works so hard, let their volunteers have hope in their hearts PLEASE.

This is what goes on in the world, man's creation, so much greed and too little compassion.

Thank you for reading this, Please share it.

Together we truly can make a difference.

Sylvia x

P.S. please see the competition below.

Also help needed at Ardingly show grounds to set up tents and stalls on June 2nd, and man stalls 3rd-6th. Please email me if you can help. Thank you x Swvanatta@gmail.com