Moka the Jindo is here.
Moka arrived in Canada Saturday, February 5 at 5:05 p.m., and entered our home at 9:36 p.m.
It was a tense day, as the plane that was to bring Moka to Canada from South Korea was unable to fly due to to engine problems. That meant Moka and her fly-mate, another young Korean rescue dog, had to wait extra hours in the airport prior to getting on a plane to Toronto. That flight was rebooked, and Moka was loaded into cargo for a 13 hour and 42 minute journey.
Since my partner and I decided to work with a Korean rescue agency, the flight and the logistics of that flight always came with questions for us. Would she be comfortable? How would this affect her physical and mental health? We were committed to helping a Korean agency, one that works to end the dog meat trade. But the reality is no. She would probably not be comfortable. It would be cold, she would be jostled around from place to place, and likely while in the plane as well. Moka may be scared, confused, and anxious. She would be hungry, as although she had access to water, food was not offered to limit the chance she would need to 'do her business'. We spoke at length about these concerns, and decided that we could accept those conditions. We hoped that Moka would have the courage and strength to handle the journey.
I picked her up at the Air Canada Cargo Office in Mississauga. Cargo staff loaded her into the back of my vehicle and the rescue agent took our photo, handed me the formal papers for Moka, and wished us well. It was fast. The main priority was getting Moka home so she could get out the travel crate. All in all, she has been inside that crate for 16-19 hours at this point. That was giving me anxiety. The number one rule of the rescue agency was 'do not let your dog out of the crate until you get home'. No exceptions. Korean Jindo dogs are known as high flight risks. That means they will run away whenever they get the chance, if they are not trained and bonded to their family. I talked and sang to Moka on the drive home, hoping this would help her get to know my voice, and to make her feel more at ease.
It's Day 2. Moka and I are getting to know each other, and my partner is here as well but letting me take the lead. She prefers to stay in the travel crate for now. We had a short bonding moment this afternoon. After about an hour of coaxing and treats, I was able to slip the collar and GPS tracker over her head. Next, I hope to get her into her harness, as a venture into the backyard is important progress. She is eating and drinking, and although she is timid and shy, I can see her gentle soul and kind character though the noise. I've been learning Korean language commands, and continue to talk to her and make her feel part of the goings on in the house.
I noted that sometimes beginnings start from endings. This is not our first rescue. In September 2021, we said a difficult goodbye to our 15 year old Jindo-corgi rescue. People in our community loved her just as much as we still do. In 2018, we adopted a Jindo from a Korean rescue agency. She would have turned 5 years old on February 28 of this year. In November 2021, she became ill, and even after days of emergency intervention and surgery, she could not be saved. It is unbelievable, and the worst of coincidences, but both of our family pets passed within 2 months. The decision to add a member to our family has been tough. At times we feel like we have not yet honoured the memories and Neko and Nori. But we also feel that we have the means, the time, and the room in our hearts to welcome Moka into our family. We understand the commitment of such a decision, and I writing this blog to share Moka's story, and to expose some truths around the Korean dog meat trade, and dog ownership in general. They deserve the best of ourselves, and it is not a decision that should be made on emotion alone. Moka is home, and I am excited to have the chance to share her story. I hope to see her bloom and look forward to seeing her true personality.
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