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IAKA/KAPES Project for Struggling Shelters
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In 2008, one of KAPES’ goals was to help struggling shelters operate better through education and funding. Such shelters are operated by groups or individuals that are not well known in Korea and are often experiencing financial difficulties. Conditions for the animals are poor, and those who run the shelters don’t have the expertise to care for pet animals properly. We are also concerned that shelter owners could be anim
al hoarders, rather than legitimate protectors of dogs and cats. With owners having no fundamental training regarding care of shelter animals, rescued cats and dogs have little hope of living better lives.
As with Daejeon Shelter, we hope to give all legitimate shelters the opportunity to improve. Recently we offered our support to two more shelters with excellent management—despite the dire circumstances they face—and we are proud to have Haesun Park (Director of KAPES) working directly with them to help provide cat and dog spay/neuter and to teach proper pet care and adoption practices. But these efforts alone are not enough, since the number of abandoned dogs and cats continues to rise and shelters are overcrowded, making them all the more difficult to maintain.
The future is bright, however, as we have only just begun this project. Entering a new decade, animal protection laws are being strengthened and general awareness of animal abuse is on the rise. Haesun works constantly with the government, lobbying to enforce the law and to engage in more public education. And it is truly a blessing that we have such programs as Assisted Animal Therapy and the new Korean Animal Assisted Therapy Federation (see page 3). We can hardly wait to find an affordable place in Seoul, however small, to build the KAPES Adoption and Education Center! But without financial assistance, our work to save stray dogs and cats is not possible; that is why we urge you all to continue to contribute to our organization. After all, how sad would the world be without love and nurturing among all forms of life? Make the future of all pets and animals a happier one by supporting these programs to benefit not only our personal lives, but also all living beings in society.
I wish you all a wonderful spring season!
Sincerely,
Kyenan Kum
IAKA & KAPES Founder