Regina woman provides homes for Korean rescue-dogs

Thanks to a Regina woman, five Korean-born Labradors are now calling Saskatchewan home.

Falyn Jarvis, founder of Waggy Tails Pet Rescue, broughtthe canines from South Korea after she was tipped off in December that they were set to be used for one man's meals.

Though not illegal, the traditional practice of raising and slaughtering dogs for food in the east Asian country is unregulated. The country does not have listings about dogs in its agricultural policies on livestock.

South Korea's animal cruelty lawsprohibit cruel and harmful treatment of animals, including dogs.

In the case of the five labs, Jarvis' contact in Seoul, Janet Brettner, tipped her off to the decrepit conditions the owner had the dogs living in.

Photos submitted by Jarvis show a make-shift, covered corral area. It appears to be strewn together with various pieces of rotten wood, a tarp and what appear to be bedsheets.

Other photos show several different dead dogs, including puppies, laying around and inside the holding area.

Jarvis said Brettner told her pregnant females dogs often birthed still-born pups or pups that died soon after birth, because their mothers were unhealthy.

After the dogs were apprehended and boarded at a Seoul-area veterinarian clinic, Jarvis coordinated their transport to Canada, starting in March.

The last lab arrived in May.

Jarvis has helped rescue dogs abround previous, once helpingdogs from Taiwan and froma derelict pet store she stumbled upon while teaching English in Seoul in 2007.

Why does the 32-year-old have a penchant for dogs?

"I feel like people and dogs have evolved together. It's almost like we're an interdependent species and we should be taking care of each other," she said.

She saidpeople "should always have some measure of humanity at the forefront," when dealing with dogs, "nomatter what your intention is."

She's now working with the labs to warm them up to human interaction so they'll be ready for adoption.

Two of the five, Sunny and Bless, have already been adopted.

"I honestly feel like I have feelings for (all animals)," she said.