Shelter Visitors, Helpers, Interns
Please note; “We are not taking in any stay over volunteers for the time being.”
All enquiries, please write to this email: nami@savekoreandogs.org
Dear Visitors/Volunteers,
Welcome to SKD, SaveKoreanDogs! Our shelter is strictly run by volunteers with one full time male carer Song(his first name) We are always short of hands and so much to do on daily basis from playing with the dogs in our dog park or walk the dogs to the West Sea Trail, or you can help us clean up the kennels, feed the dogs, sit with traumatized dogs, or walk and play with the dogs at the two parks. Its almost impossible to keep the shelter tidy and clean with many dogs. Most of the dogs poop and pee minimum twice a day, mostly five times a day.
SaveKoreanDogs operates out of the sanctuary. Its still in the making but has a system that has been built over the years since the first shelter in Incheon City in early days. If you are looking for a perfect shelter we are not for you. We are still in the making for the better and still improve in its operation every year after nine years of history. Its going to be a decade for Nami in 2021.
The sanctuary is Nami’s house she bought in early 2016. Its an old house turned into a shelter that needs constant repair. The dog park is donated by Nami Kim’s 93 year old mom. Its a tiny park couple of minute walk from shelter and now 2nd dog park five times bigger is open. Dogs come out for exercises here some wants to run and roam around freely are at the new dog park while the old park is for the puppies and training.
We have a tiny dog park for the dogs next to the shelter, we have a tiny cabin for guests at the old dog park. You can stay in the cabin if you like if dogs barking at night bothers you. Currently our new dog park attached shelter named “Garden of Joy” is almost completed. https://youtu.be/Ox3H7yRUlUY
We do not use leather products in the shelter and most of the stuff we use in the kitchen and bathrooms are eco-friendly. Most of them are made by natural ingredients. This is to avoid contamination as we are surrounded by rice paddy around us.
Nami lives at the shelter does everything from A to Z from cooking, washing dishes, cleaning to groceries, takes care of the sick dogs indoor, runs to vets, out to rescue and negotiate with butchers, speak to city officials often and maintain the shelter. The shelter is an old house (15 years old) that needs constant repairs. Nami does lots of paper works end of each month, receive all the visitors and workers in and out daily. She also takes charge of all the adoption process related. It will be a great help if you can help Nami saves time. We do not accept those under aged or in early 20’s
*Please come with an international driver license if you would like to drive. Our vehicle insurance covers “Anyone age above 30” for any nationality.
*Please try to remember the names of the dogs before you come. You can find them in the Adoptable Dogs. https://savekoreandogs.org/adoptable-dogs/ Name of dog is written on the fence of each kennel.
*FYI, from time to time, some new intake dogs bark and howl whole night. I hear complaints from visitors staying with us. There is a motel nearby Nami can book for you. Its US$40 per night.
*If you ask me what to bring or what we need, we would like to say some toys. Most of the dogs we rescued had no experiences with playing toys but once they’ve learnt to play with toys do not last very long.
?Guest Room and Meal
We have a guest room for two (a bunker bed) with a bathroom attached. Please keep the guest room tidy, clean your room. Two vegetarian meals are provided. Nami lives at the shelter cooks the meals but you can cook your own. No red meat is allowed unless its for the sick dogs unnder medication recovering. Breakfast is normally bread and vegetable margarine or cereal with soya milk or salad from the garden in the new dog park. *When Nami cooks meat its for those sick dogs in indoor only. Nearest grocery is five minutes away by drive. Its best you tell Nami your Likes and Dislikes so she can buy your favorites at the grocery nearby or you can pick your own if you like to join grocery shopping. We have a refrigerator for volunteers in the living room, soft drinks, Soya milk, fruits and bread, please help yourself. We have two separate trash cans each corner both indoor and outdoor. One is for papers (burn-able only) and the other for plastic/bottles/cans. Its regulated by the government.
?Helpers Duty
*IMPORTANT!!! Please try to remember the names of the dogs in our adoptable dogs list before you come. https://savekoreandogs.org/adoptable-dogs/
Name of each dog is on each kennel and sometimes with a warning such as “Trauma” “Aggressive” “Do not open the door” and so on. Some chores to do daily are such as bathing/washing the dogs and brushing the long hair-ed dogs in between. Mostly walking and playing with dogs. Sitting with dogs with trauma is what most volunteers do. Indoor help can be sweep/mop/collect garbage. So much to do on daily basis, anything you can do for the dogs and or to keep the shelter tidy is appreciated. Its almost impossible to maintain it clean. Dogs poop and pee 2 – 5 times a day.
We feed the dogs twice a day, breakfast is in between 8 am – 9 am evening at 5 – 6 pm. Only sick dogs and puppies are allowed indoors. You can join our rescue if you are interested in witnessing how we rescue the dogs. Nami can plan a short trip in the neighbors.
Daily Schedule
7 am: Breakfast
8 – 10 am: Feed the Dogs Breakfast, Sit with trauma dogs, Cleaning kennels, Administer Medications
10 am: Walk and Play at our dog park
12-1 pm: Our Lunch
2 pm: Cleaning kennels, Walk and Play again, Sit with trauma dogs
4-5 pm: Feeding Dinner (its dark at 5 pm during winter time)
6 pm: Our Dinner
7 pm: Cleaning indoor
?About Dogs
SKD Sanctuary has 30 kennels total, each kennel houses 2-3 dogs or 1 if the dog has some issue not getting along well with others. Most of our dogs are traumatized and un-petable being 100% rescued from dog slaughterhouses, dog farms all over Korea. Nami and her network rescue members in other cities all across Korea do a few small and large rescue per month.
Most of the dogs do not know how to take treats from hands, adult dogs don’t know what to do with toys, some shake when they see a human coming near them. We encourage you sit in the kennels of those need human interaction. Some timid are afraid of humans but they need our caring hands. Most of the dogs crave love and attention love to go out for a walk. Some are good with humans but no good to other dogs, some get along well with others but do not like human presence. Some of the dogs tied to the kennel poles are with behavioral issues such as food aggression or fight with others..
Our dogs are not potty trained, do not know the basic commands. Those new in take or malnourished, or those under skin or heartworm treatments are housed in the kept in the smaller area.
FYI, no matter how clean it was before the day, next morning what you see is nothing but poops everywhere. Some dogs poop and pee 5-6 times a day. If you are visiting us before 10 am, it may look like what we call here “Poop Fields” but once its cleaned after feeding breakfast, it is back to clean again but it does not last long. Since the dogs are not potty trained, kennels need constant cleaning. Basically we clean up the kennels twice a day but morning clean up involves lot more works. Some volunteers frown at poops and smell but that is part of our shelter. Help us clean up together. Also you get to see spider nets everywhere. No matter how many times we clean it weekly, its back again on the next day. This is the price we pay being in the middle of rice paddy.
?Walking and Playing with Dogs
West Sea trail is the perfect country road to walk the dogs. The trail leads you to the West Sea. There is a ginseng farm, pear orchard, small plum orchard, and a lotus pond. Sunset at the sanctuary is spectacular, very picturesque and peaceful surroundings for dogs to go for walks.
?Location & Environment
Although we are isolated in the rice paddy, SKD Sanctuary is not far from Seoul, 1-2 hours (depending on the traffic) north of Seoul facing the West Sea, closer to North Korea than Seoul by sea. Unfortunately, no public transportation is available as its location is in a village far from the main traffic roads. We can be reached by taxis only. Most taxis have GPS to guide taxi drivers when you show them the address Nami send you. This may shock you but from April to November, we see spider nets all over the shelter from roof to kennels everyday. One gets to see all kinds of insects and bugs all over in the windows and doors facing the rice paddy. Also things get rusty very quick in the area as we are five minutes away from the West Sea. That’s the price we pay for being in an isolated location in the middle of rice paddy. There are trash cans at three or four corners those burnable go to Papers, bottles/plastics/cans go to Recyclable. Internet connection is fine, Wifi works indoor and around the shelter.
? Coming from the Incheon International Airport
When you arrive at Incheon International Airport, there are major telecome offices such as KT, LG U + or SK Telecom, you can buy a sim card which cost you from US$20 to $60 depending on the length of your stay. As you come out of the arrival hall, there is a taxi stop with receptionist. Just tell them you are going to Gimpo City and show our address (written in Korean Nami sends you) then they pick a taxi for you. It costs maximum $40 – $50 from the airport to our shelter. Its about an hour by taxi. To those live in Korea, expatriates/local volunteers coming from Seoul or elsewhere, please bring your lunch if you are not staying overnight.
?We need to know
FYI, none of our regular local volunteers or our part time carer speak English. Even Nami’s English is not perfect, English is her 4th language she writes and speaks. You may have some communication barriers other than experiencing cultural differences. We believe you may have lots of questions while you are here with us. We are willing to make improvements if you advise us but I’ve had a few visitors telling us what to do wanting us to do things in their ways. Its normally why is it that you do this way? Yes, there are cultural differences and something unique/strange about Korean way of doing things and getting things done. I think the links below may help you to understand some of our behaviors that is very Korean. Some love it some do not like it.
http://www.ediplomat.com/np/cultural_etiquette/ce_kr.htm
https://medium.com/@chengeerlee/10-things-i-hate-about-korea-febb21bbcd41
We would like to get to know you before we welcome you and spend time with us. If you are interested in coming and staying with us as a volunteer or an intern. Please make sure you have anti-tetanic shots and answer some of the questions and email us at Nami@savekoreandogs.org or heidi@savekoreandogs.org Thank you!
Nami will call you for an interview before she decides. Please send her your phone number together with the below. Thank you.
- Your nationality, what country are you from?
- Age group/Your occupation.
- How long do you plan to stay? If you are coming for a month or so we need a separate application. I suggest you join our internship program offered to the interns to learn about dogs behaviors. Our adviser/trainer BS Kim can guide you through this. BS and Sung Ho Kang are certified dog trainers in Korea.
- Do you have any experiences with dogs training/rehabilitation in the past?
- Would you be able to handle a dog that is traumatized or reactive? If yes, do you have the patience to help the dog/s?
- Would you be willing to sacrifice some of the things you enjoy? We don’t watch TV, no entertainment in a tiny village where our shelter is located. Please come only when you think you can dedicate your time for the dogs. Nami have had guests who are constantly on the phone or internet. Only those “Time for the Dogs” may apply.
Thank you!
Shelter Indoors
Living Room
Kitchen
Nami′s Room, where she lives at the shelter
Carer's Room
Guestroom with bathroom attached
Bathroom
English 
Deutsch