I have exciting news today about the newest addition to our family: Leo.
Leo is the most adorable pup you'll ever see, with soft black eyes, a serious gaze, and the softest fur that I want to cuddle all day. He is skinny, with ribs that show through his fur and feel hard against my palms. He loves food, like all dogs do, and wolfs down his meals in seconds. After treading metal bars for the first four months of his life, he loves how the spiky, wintry grass in our backyard feels under his feet. And although he never knew any human kindness before he was rescued and put on a plane to the United States just days ago, he is already beginning to kiss our faces and wag his tail for us. He is figuring out he's safe and at home, far, far away from the hell that he once lived in.
Leo is a former meat dog from South Korea. As gruesome as that sounds to our ears, dogs are eaten in parts of the world, including China, Korea, Vietnam, and even parts of India. In moral terms, it's probably no different than eating a pig or a cow or a chicken. But to those of us who share our lives with these friendly, almost-human-without-the-bad-parts creatures, the practice seems incomprehensible.
In South Korea, there are thousands of dog meat farms with hundreds of thousands of dogs awaiting a death sentence. The dogs belong to a variety of breeds: golden retrievers, terriers, Jindos, spaniels, beagles, and Pyrenees, among many others. Despite the tribulations they endure, their spirits are eager to heal: rescuers often recount how they are greeted with excited barks and wags when they visit the farms.
For four long months after he was born, Leo lived in a cold, bleak cage with his mom, Juliet, and dozens of other dogs. This is a relentless, cruel life, before that final, horrifying end. Through heat and freezing cold, the animals are cooped up in their wire cages, with metal wire underfoot instead of solid flooring, cutting into and hurting the dogs' sensitive paws and bodies. There is no blanket or any cover to shield them from the weather. There are no walks, no frolicking around in the sun, not enough food, and never a human touch of the kindness and companionship that we know dogs crave. When the end comes, it's a horrible one: the dogs are usually bludgeoned or beaten to death before being skinned and cooked.
Leo's fortune -- and the fortunes of 200 other dogs -- changed dramatically for the better recently when my colleagues at Humane Society International closed down the meat farm they were living in. HSI has been doing a wonderful job of raising awareness in South Korea about meat dogs as companion animals, and in transitioning farmers who raise dogs for meat to humane livelihoods. Because not all of the dogs find homes locally, due to a local misconception that meat dogs are somehow different from companion dogs, HSI has flown hundreds of the dogs into the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom where they have been placed for adoption. During his rescue, Leo became a bit of a celebrity and an ambassador for his fellow dogs suffering on meat farms. He was featured in many HSI videos and Facebook livestreams of the rescue and the subsequent transport of the dogs.
Over the past weekend, Desi, Jay and I drove down to the Virginia Beach SPCA, one of the shelters that are placing the dogs for adoption, to bring Leo home. He cowered in the back of his crate, reluctant to let anyone pick him. On the long drive home, our stop at a rest area turned into a near disaster as Leo tried frantically to pull his head out of the leash I was trying to walk him on. Here was another set of humans trying to manipulate his life. But dogs are nothing if not resilient and adaptable: after spending just a single night with us, he greeted us with a happy tail wag the next morning. In the last couple of days he's been here, he has been warming up to us, and allows us to pet him, scratch his ears, and stroke his fur now. We still need to crate Leo in the house because he's being potty trained, but instead of cowering in the back of the crate as he once did, he now walks out confidently and happily, eager to go into the backyard and play tag with his new best friend, Lily. In fact, one of the best things about adopting Leo has been that Lily and he are getting along like a house on fire. Maybe he thinks she's his new mom, because he follows her around like a, well, puppy dog. 🙂
With Lily, Billy, and now Leo, our house, so empty after Opie passed away last year, is full once again.
Joslin Webster
So how is Leo adjusting,.. has he learned some English?
Happy New Year, Leo!
From a fan in Taiwan!
Hannah
He's so beautiful, and his story brings tears to my eyes! Congratulations on the new member of your family!
Meg Baker
Lovely story, always so nice to read you. Thanks : )
Meg
Yanni
What a cutie! Hope his life will be full of love and care now!
Donna
THANK YOU so very musch for sharing!! I can not stop crying!! SO HAPPY FOR YOU AND LEO!!
and the rest of your family!!
Ruth Eisenbud
Ahimsa is alive, timely and more relevant than ever in a world crumbling from violence....
The following message was posted on Wildlife SOS INDIA FB. It is message mad possible by a foundation of ahimsa:
Wildlife S.O.S FB comment
Jacqueline Marushi While the world is falling apart, you guys are building it up again with love and kindness. Every single day you make a difference to so many innocent and precious creatures, you're an inspiration not only to me but to millions more. Thank you!❤️❤️❤️
Sharmila
I am sure Opie has sent him to you. He knows he will be in a safe haven here. Have lots of fun with Leo and congratulations Vaishali!
JS
Such a nice comment by Sharmila. Lucky Leo! I wish him only happiness and love which he will find in abundance with your family.
Ambica
Leo is lucky to have adopted your family. Love the pictures of Lily and Leo together. Thanks for sharing this heart warming story
Gail vickery
congratulations Vashali on your new baby boy Leo ! Blessings upon blessings to you both for a long, healthy and happy life !
P.S. The Punjabi Samosa over X-Mas came out GREAT !
Alan
Great story, great dog, great family. Thanks for sharing!
Ellen Lederman
Thanks so much for adopting Leo (who is definitely a soulful cutie and so great that he and Lily are already BFFs). In a time when people are creating/getting their ideal designer dogs, you opened your heart and home to a dog with a very special need...and look what a wonderful one you now have. Ahimsa may be dead/dying in India, but it's still alive in your household! (And I think that by sharing your fantastic vegan recipes, you are helping impact meat-eating at least a little since you give people such tasty alternatives, so more help for the animals.)
Speaking of compassion for animals, I was thrilled when RIngling Brothers stopped the elephant acts---but they still may be using (abusing!) other animals, so no tears shed about them closing. It was getting dated and irrelevant anyway. Even as a kid, I hated the circus and realized that elephants didn't like to do all those things. I hated going, but every year my uncle would send tickets. And I was ashamed to say that I hated it because what kid doesn't like the circus?
Anonymous
Brings tears to my eyes. Thank you so much for sharing your love with such a lucky dog! Hug him for me !
Vaishali
Thank you, I will! Leo sends a friendly woof. 🙂
Lillian Koponen
Another wonderful organization devoted to ending the dog-meat trade is https://www.soidog.org/.
Thank you for the pix - what a lucky Leo! You are the best.
Vaishali
Thanks, Lillian, I have seen them on Facebook-- they look like an amazing group.
Chris
Thank you...XO
Vaishali
Thanks. 🙂
Elsje Parsons Massyn
Its so exciting to follow Leo's story and I am so happy that Leo ended up being adopted by you - the best mom he could ask for. I love your food blog and admire the fact that you not only blog your amazing recipes but also share snippets of your life with your dogs, your family and your outreach to animals.
You are an amazing ambassador for Veganism.
Thanks so much what you do for this moment.
Vaishali
You're too kind, Elsje. We feel really lucky to have Leo with us, and he's already brought us so much joy. Thank you for your kind words. 🙂
Namrata
Aaww what a beautiful heart-warming story to read the first thing in the morning 🙂 !! Such a lovely human being you are, Vaishalli <3 Stay blessed guys, your entire family (humans + furbabes) rocks !
Vaishali
Thanks, dear Namrata. 🙂
Todd
This story warmed my heart.
Vaishali
Thanks, Todd. 🙂
richa
Love the picture with both of them running.. So free, so happy!
He looks like he should get his own Instagram and become a celebrity 🙂 IO am so happy that you all found each other. I am sending super tight hugs!
Vaishali
Haha, yes, keep his celebrity intact. 🙂 Thanks, Richa, and Leo says woof!
Allana
thanks for sharing this wonderful story! It certainly made my day 🙂
Vaishali
Thanks, Allana. 🙂
Leslie
Congratulations, Vaishali! Your newest family member is adorable and I know I don't have to tell you what joy he will bring to you.
Vaishali
Thanks, Leslie, he's already brought a lot of joy and fun into our lives. 🙂
Rajee
Leo is indeed very lucky. Not all the animals who await their cruel fate are rescued. You are a kind human being, bringing into your home an animal that needs love and care.
Vaishali
Thanks, Rajee. 🙂
Ruth Eisenbud
Hi Vaishali,
Dog meat in India is eaten by the Naga people... but it is against the law.... So several years ago when two Naga students killed a dog to eat him, they were expelled from school and will not be able to continue their education.... I don't know what other punishment they received. This is nothing like the dog meat industry in china & Korea, where dog meat is considered a healthy tonic for those with flagging libidos... Dog meat is institutionalized, especially in China, where 17 million dogs are killed every year in legal slaughter houses ... restaurants kill their own dogs.... and people kill them in their homes, so the number is extremely high, but not knowable.
By the way, it is also possible to get dog meat in the USA.... It is not against the law to kill a dog in the USA if the dog is to be eaten. There are exceptions such as New York State, but for the most part it is legal.
I am sure many Indians are appalled by all the cattle killed in the USA.... just as we are about the dogs killed in China, korea etc...
The bottom line is that it is no less cruel to kill a cow, a pig, a chicken than a dog.... all slaughter is cruel.
Which is why I so appreciate your effort to encourage a vegan diet.
Ruth
Namrata
Ruth, slaughtering cattle is a very common practice in India too. In some states killing cows is illegal, but still such illegal slaughter takes place. Plus buffalo slaughter is totally unregulated here. It's just a myth that cows are "loved and respected" in India 🙁 India too is a very sad place for cattle.
And I had NO idea that dogs are eaten in the US!
Ruth Eisenbud
Namrata,
I understand that cows are slaughtered in India, but nonetheless many Indians are also incensed by this, as are Americans about the slaughter of dogs in China. The same irony exists in American, where 5 million dogs are killed every year in a nation that professes to love dogs.
Ruth
Vaishali
Agreed, Namrata. Ruth, I love India and appreciate that you always defend it, but you do need to realize that animal cruelty is very much present and a problem in India. On the dog meat, it's not just a case of two students in Nagaland consuming a dog. Dogs are sold openly in markets there -- I've seen photos and heard first-hand accounts, and it's a heartbreaking sight. The dogs are placed in gunny sacks and tied up, like they're some sort of fruits or vegetables. When the end comes, they are put into pits and beaten to death. And like Namrata says, cow slaughter is a common practice in India-- India is the world's top beef exporter, and it slaughters hundreds of thousands of calves each year because of the country's hunger for milk. During celebrations, in some parts of India, animal cruelty is a norm-- right now, there are protests going on in Tamil Nadu over Jaillikattu, a torture of bulls that happens during Pongal, a local festival. The Supreme Court has banned Jallikattu, but thousands of locals believe it should not be outlawed because it's part of their tradition. Have you ever visited India? You might get a better picture of what goes on. I think as much as our religion and culture appreciate animals and encourage compassion, a lot among us have a long way to go toward meeting that standard. Kudos to India's courts which have done a good job in recent years of passing strong laws against certain forms of animal cruelty,
Ruth Eisenbud
Still, dog meat in India is eaten by a fringe minority...
I am grateful that 'The Supreme Court has banned Jallikattu, but thousands of locals believe it should not be outlawed because it’s part of their tradition.'
In Spain despite protests calling for a ban on bull fighting, the Supreme Court ruled that Bull Fighting is a National Heritage Tradition which cannot be banned.
Proper laws are needed before cruel traditions can be nullified.
I understand that there is cruelty in India as there is everywhere, but there are benefits for animals in India not possible anywhere else.
Vaishali
What are the benefits? India's vegetarian population is shrinking, factory farms are flourishing, the country has the largest population of homeless cows, conditions in zoos are terrible, dogfighting, cockfighting and all of that goes on openly despite laws banning them...In Kerala, recently, some vigilantes have taken it upon themselves to club street dogs to death after a dog attacked a woman. There is cruelty everywhere, I agree, and a lot of it is in India. Also, FYI, India's vegetarian tradition, as it is practiced now, is religion-based rather than compassion-based. I have personally known a number of people who never eat meat but wouldn't care less if a dog was being kicked or stoned or run over before their very eyes. The fact is, Ruth, India is a wonderful country and I couldn't love it more-- it is in my face, and my blood, and my heart, and on my mind all the time, even though I live so far from it. But it is not a Utopia where everyone's practicing ahimsa. Ahimsa, as an ideal, has become as obsolete in India as Gandhi has.
Nupur
Leo is beautiful- look at that face! What a story. I am so glad his fortune changed and you guys are just the best.
Vaishali
Thanks, Nupur. 🙂
Amanda Sederstrand
Thank you for this.....Something beautiful on a dreary week. As always your post reminds me there are bright lights out there- and inspires me to burn more. Congratulations to your fuller nest.
Cheers and Much love from upstate NY
Vaishali
Thanks for your kind words, Amanda. 🙂
Anonymous
Would be nice to hear from you...:
Irene Muschel
Lucky dog to have found a family with such a big heart.
Vaishali
Thanks, Irene. 🙂
Laura
Lovely rescue! Do you know where his mom went?
Vaishali
Hi Laura, the dogs went to a number of rescues around the country. Juliet was not at the VBSPCA where Leo was sent. Here's a list of the shelters the dogs went to (scroll to the bottom of the release):
Bernadette Reddington
Leo is beautiful! Thank you for sharing this lovely rescue story. I wish you all much happiness together!
Kind regards,
Bernie
Vaishali
Thanks, Bernie! 🙂
geetha
So beautiful!Tears me up.Thank you for sharing.
Vaishali
Thanks, dear Geetha. 🙂
Sonia Patel
Leo is so cute and fortunate, can I ask what you feed him?
I have westie who is 5 years old and has been with us for nearly a year and half. we feed him home cooked meals.
BTW, I love your vegan cooking and often check out your new additions when I get the email. Thank you for sharing all the wonderful recipes.
Vaishali
Hi Sonia, I have been feeding him some canned food that the shelter gave us to transition him, but I feed Lily -- and my other dogs in the past -- a homemade diet of chicken, rice, lentils and veggies. Eventually, I'll move Leo to this, probably this week. Would love to hear what your dog eats.
Anonymous
what a wonderful story
Vaishali
Thanks! 🙂