S.Korea activists urge rescue of dogs left on shelled island - story with pics

[Kadie]

S.Korea activists urge rescue of dogs left on shelled island

– Mon Nov 29, 10:31 am ET

YEONPYEONG ISLAND, South Korea (AFP) – South Korean animal activists are pushing for the rescue of hundreds of dogs left behind when their owners fled the island shelled by North Korea last week.

Jeon Gyeong-Ok, of the Korean Society for Animal Freedom, said 200 to 300 animals, mostly dogs, were roaming the island or were left chained up or caged and without human care, the Korea Times reported Monday.

Some 12,000 people signed an online petition urging the government to evacuate, feed and shelter animals that have been abandoned since the strike on the island of Yeonpyeong near the contested sea border.

North Korea's hail of shells and missiles killed two marines and two civilians and sparked an exodus of almost all of the island's 1,500 residents on ferries that were too crowded to transport the animals.

more...
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20101129/sc_afp/nkoreaskoreamilitaryislandanimals_20101129170447

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South Korean police check a dog sitting in an animal lover's bag before departing Yeonpyeong Island on November 29, where animals were abandoned when residents were evacuated last week from Yeonpyeong Island following North Korea's attack on the island. (AFP/File/Kim Jae-Hwan)


Animal rights activist Park So-youn holds stray dogs rescued from a village damaged by North Korean artillery shelling, upon her leaving a ferry from Yeonpyeong Island, November 29, 2010. South Korean President Lee Myung-bak labelled North Korea's artillery attack on a southern island a crime against humanity and said Pyongyang will pay the price for any further provocation. North Korea fired shells at the island off the peninsula's west coast on Tuesday, killing two civilians and two soldiers and destroying dozens of houses. REUTERS/Jo Yong-Hak « Read less (SOUTH KOREA - Tags: POLITICS MILITARY ANIMALS CONFLICT IMAGES OF THE DAY)


A police officer carries a wounded dog to a ferry after animal rights activists rescued it from a village damaged by North Korean artillery shelling, at a port on Yeonpyeong Island, November 29, 2010. South Korean President Lee Myung-bak labelled North Korea's artillery attack on a southern island a crime against humanity and said Pyongyang will pay the price for any further provocation. North Korea fired shells at the island off the peninsula's west coast on Tuesday, killing two civilians and two soldiers and destroying dozens of houses.« Read less REUTERS/Jo Yong-Hak (SOUTH KOREA - Tags: POLITICS MILITARY ANIMALS CONFLICT)


A South Korean animal rights activist carries dogs to a ferry at the port of South Korea's Yeonpyeong Island Monday, Nov. 29, 2010 after searching the island to look for abandoned or injured animals to evacuate them. On the ship are journalists also leaving the island to return to the South Korean mainland (AP Photo/David Guttenfelder)

[RKP5637]

1. I could never leave my pet(s) behind. I would die with them. n/t

[northernlights]

2. K&R to the rescuers....

I wish I could help them...

[GreenStormCloud]

3. What about the cats?

Oh well. Most cats aren't as dependent upon humans as dogs are.

[grilled onions]

4. Pets/Wild Animals vs war

So often they are the forgotten victims of any war,conflict or natural disaster. They often counted on their human owners for protection,shelter and food. Left behind,chained,caged,trapped without food or water they are virtually helpless. We have seen similar situations here with floods or forest fires.
The wild animals may have a bit more knowledge about survival but when their homes,food,water are gone they are vulnerable to the elements and their natural enemies.
Time is the enemy. By the time the world realizes there is a problem and gather people,supplies,transportation it's too late for many of them. I weep for the victims and hope for the survivors.