Vision
To create a rescue system built on transparency and trust, where every donation truly serves the purpose it was intended for: saving lives. Too often, organizations, councils, and even some veterinarians claim the title of "rescue" but fall short of genuine action—using the label for personal gain, position, or benefits rather than for the strays in need...Read more about the vision.
Mission
As a one-person private rescuer, my daily mission begins with feeding over 40 stray cats across my town, creating a sense of safety and consistency for them. Building trust with strays is essential for effective rescue efforts—it’s a slow but rewarding process that requires patience and commitment. Once trust is established, rescues can be swift...Read more about the mission.
The Current Problem
The challenges faced by stray cats in Korea are immense and multifaceted, rooted in societal attitudes, government inefficiencies, and systemic neglect. Here’s a breakdown of the critical issues:
1. Social Stigma and Misunderstanding
- Negative Perception of Caregivers: Stray cat caregivers, often called "cat moms" (with negative connotations), are viewed as anti-social individuals without meaningful lives. This harmful stereotype discourages community support and compassion.
- Lack of Awareness about TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return): Many locals are unaware of TNR programs and their benefits in reducing cat population growth and minimizing noise complaints. They mistakenly believe cats are fine outdoors and oppose feeding or sheltering them, sometimes resorting to extreme actions like poisoning or destroying shelters.
2. City Council and Government Failures
- Budget Excuses: Local governments often claim a lack of funds to support meaningful rescue and care for strays, despite allocating money for ineffective programs.
- Superficial TNR Projects:
- Trappers indiscriminately catch cats, including pregnant ones, previously spayed cats, or kittens.
- Designated veterinarians, motivated by government funding, perform surgeries regardless of the cat's health or condition, leading to unnecessary suffering.
- Post-surgery care is inadequate, with male cats released in 0–1 days and females in 1–3 days, often resulting in infections and death.
3. Inadequate Animal Facilities
- Limited Capacity: Local animal shelters lack space or resources to take in strays, even in critical situations.
- Unreasonable Demands: Facilities often require private individuals to cover rescue costs and volunteer hours to assist in emergencies.
4. Corruption and Mismanagement
- Title Over Action: Many organizations and councils adopt the title of "rescue" to secure funding or gain public recognition without providing real support.
- Bigger Organizations’ Inaction: Larger rescue organizations prioritize high-profile cases for publicity while ignoring smaller, urgent cases that lack visibility.
5. The Burden on Private Rescuers
Most meaningful rescue efforts rely entirely on private individuals who use their own time, money, and resources. In areas like Yongsan, no official system exists to support these rescuers or the strays they care for.
This broken system reflects a failure of society and governance to address the root causes of the stray cat crisis. To create real change, we must tackle these issues at every level, from raising awareness in local communities to holding government bodies accountable for ethical and effective rescue practices.
Together, we can expose these injustices and push for a system that prioritizes compassion and transparency over titles and empty promises.
Goal
My goal is simple yet deeply meaningful: to nurture a harmonious and thriving environment for every living being in my home district of Yongsan—a place I’ve called home for most of my life and one of my favorite towns...Read more about the goal.
My Story
Before anything else, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude. It feels early to celebrate, but I am overwhelmed by the kindness, support, and love that Mochi and I have received from so many of you. Thank you for joining us on this journey to save Mochi. While we still have a long way to go, I am hopeful that her recovery will be the best Christmas gift...Read the full story.
