Helping Paws Animal Shelter in Woodstock saves dogs from South Korean meat farm

WOODSTOCK – The "Fantastic Four" dogs have arrived in Woodstock from South Korea with a new chance for life. Darwin, Sunshine, Blanche and Rose arrived at Helping Paws Animal Shelter this week having never felt grass on their paws, a collar around their necks or a gentle pet, shelter director Sharon Bono-Fabian said.

Their former home was a South Korean meat farm, where they would have met their fate.

“We get a lot [of animals] from out of state,” Bono-Fabian said. “About 85 percent comes from high-kill shelters. But this is the first time we have done something like this.”

Linda Latelle, of local animal rescue Magnificent Mutts and Meows, acted as a liaison for Helping Paws and the Humane Society International, which was in the process of shutting down the meat farm where the four dogs were held. About 130 dogs total were at the farm.

“I hope we can do more of this because I think Humane Society International is doing this the right way,” Bono-Fabian said.

The dogs still are shy – the girls, Blanche and Rose, more than their male counterparts, Bono-Fabian said.

But the dogs are friendly, and Bono-Fabian has been spending time with them and training them every day,
she said.

“I want them to come out of their shell and come to understand humans aren’t bad,” she said. “I think this is going to be amazing for them.”

Helping Paws is located at 2500 Harding Lane in Woodstock. The facility houses about 45 dogs and 75 to 100 cats and kittens.