Willow the adorable miniature Poodle with a glorious coat has survived a traumatic history. His family sold him for $20 to a dog meat farm in South Korea. When rescuers discovered him, it was difficult to believe that he used to have an owner and a home.
Willow was found during Nami Kim’s biggest operation to date when she rescued 300 dogs from a farm in Bucheon, South Korea. Willow was discovered in a corner near where dogs were being slaughtered. The frightened little dog was dirty and matted all over. His ears had been slashed, his teeth were decayed, and his tongue was infected.
Nami reached out to Heather Heath, a Las Vegas resident and advocate for the abolition of the dog meat trade. She asked if she would like to take Willow in. Heather didn’t even think twice. Willow was flown to Heather in 2016, and with her care and affection, the dog blossomed. Heather explained that as soon as he realized he was loved and protected, his personality began to shine.
Heather realized she may have gotten the ideal partner for spreading the news about the dog meat trade. She created an I Am Willow page on Facebook on a whim and gained 500 followers in two days. She felt she has stumbled across something big. She knew that by removing the negative things that people continually see on social media, she could reach a whole new audience.
Heather said that she established Willow’s Wish to demonstrate to the public that rescue is not the answer to stopping the dog meat trade. There is no possible way to save so many dogs. However, the landscape can still be changed. Heather’s ultimate goal with Willow’s Wish is to provide viable and sustainable solutions for global animal welfare improvement through adoption, conservation, education, sterilization, and legislation.
Willow travels in the shape of a foam board cutout whenever Heather flies abroad as part of her quest to educate. Additionally, Willow’s Wish supports rescue flights for dog meat trade survivors, including flights from China, Egypt, Vietnam, and South Korea. They have funded almost 60 flights to date.
Source: Modern Dog Magazine
