Why do teachers get pets in Korea?

My wife and I got a persian cat and we introduced her to a male after about 2 years. She gave birth to three beautiful kittens and we gave 1 away and kept the other 2. Lots of cat fur in the apartment now! However, we're happy. Growing up in Canada I always was around cats and now the trend continues...

- just because a dog will love you unconditionally does not make it fair to raise it in 50 sqm  and I think it's an unhealthy thing to share such a small space with an animal whatever it's size, unfair thing to do to your neighbors too.

This is aboslute bull. A small apartment is better than living in an outdoor cage at a "shelter" or being tied to a tree like Koreans do. My shih tzu is very happy living in my tiny high rise apartment. She is always wagging her tale and she is healthy and happy. She loves looking out the window. I take her for two walks a day, the rest of the day she cuddles in my lap. Does she need a 5 bedroom 6 story house to cuddle in my lap? No. She doesn't bark unless someone knocks on the door. IT'S CALLED TRAIN YOUR DOG. Dogs need WALKING and human attention more than they need big, open spaces. My friend has a dobberman pincher in a high rise apartment. That dog is also pretty healthy and happy because he is with his master. He takes him to a park once a day and it gets a potty walk in the morning. Dogs do not need a lot of space necessarily to get their exercise in. A huge backyard is boring if there's no human to play with. All the dog does is dig holes in the yard if their owner isn't throwing a frisby or engaging them in a game. They like new smells! They like to be walked! They like to be social! All you need is a harness and leash and any dog is going to be thrilled. Dogs are not humans! They are DEN ANIMALS. Smaller spaces actually make them feel more secure, not less secure. If you think I'm wrong, do some research on it. I know my dog is pretty damn happy though and I've met dogs that live in mansions that take doggy prozac. Space is not the issue.

I have a cat at home in Washington.  My mom took her for me, and she went from being an only child to being a part of a big family.  I still talk to her on skype, and my mom leaves my quilt on the bed so she can smell me and sleep on it.  I miss her like crazy, but even if I could have her in my apartment, that plane ride would have been brutal for her.  She didn't like going to 'grandma's' house in the car.    I did not want to put my baby girl through that.  She is almost 9 years old, so I have had her LONG before this Korea thing ever even became an idea in my head. I will not get a pet in Korea, as I know it will not be fair for them if I want to leave and not take them, and it will not be fair for them if I want to take them, and they have to endure the travel.  My time in Korea is my longest time in my life without having a pet, and I still tell my students I have a cat at home.  I just pray she lives long enough that I can go home, and my husband, my kitty and myself can be a family again when we get home.  Man I miss my baby girl!!!!

If you are only planning on staying in Korea for a year or so, I wouldn't recommend getting a pet unless you are sure you can find someone else to take care of it (or of course you plan on taking it with you when you leave.)

"Why do teachers get pets in Korea?"

Harsh much??

Some of us have gotten amazing pets through the teachers who posted their pet information on this website. And I would rather individuals feel they CAN post information here than just leave their pets in boxes on the side of the street forcing that helpless animal to starve to death, be run over by cars or be attacked by strays. .

Let's not be judgemental and guilt someone into doing something truly regretful because they feel attacked for trying to find an animal a home.

"Before you criticize a man, walk a mile in his shoes".

I have two cats and a dog.  All were given to me by other teachers who have left or found they couldn't keep them any longer.  I have enough space to provide them with a happy home and I am in Korea for the foreseeable future, maybe forever.  If I had to leave I would look to find another happy home for them with another teacher who would love and care for them as I do.  I'm sure they would bring a lot of pleasure and adapt to new 'owners' if it was really necessary.

The fact that people do post on here shows that they don't just abandon them somewhere.  Being passed around, while not ideal, is sometimes how life goes and so long as they are well cared for in the process it's better than being abandoned or left in a shelter.  I don't think the OP had a lot to say to anyone posting pets on Waygook - those who buy animals from live pet shops and then abandon them must be a small minority of the posters here when they are aware of so many alternatives.

Another option, which people have not mentioned here, is to NOT get a pet at all.

But, however, donate to an organisation, like KARA (animalrightskorea.o rg) who encourage responsible animal care, fight against the dogmeat trade etc, to name a few things they are involved in. It's probably the least selfish option!!

I hate to say it, but the way many pets are treated around the world and in Korea specifically, maybe being stuck inside all day isn't the worst thing that could happen. A lot of neighborhoods I've walked through won't let their own dogs inside the house most/all of the time. Really, things could be much worse.

Kids give them to you as a gift and then for that instant...the little animals puppy eyes get the better of you and you can't say no!...then after a few weeks you realise the responsibility and bad smell in your apartment creeps up on you...oh, boy...having a weakness for puppy eyes could get you into trouble...it's a learning school...i have to pull up my socks...and take the responsibility...th e dog is still adorable:)

In Busan, you can foster dogs from shindogs.org if you feel the need for a puppy but realize you can't make the commitment.  They also love to have volunteers come in on the weekends to play with dogs, as well as help with cleanup.  I would recommend fostering or helping out rather than getting a dog if you don't plan on taking one with you when you leave.

I adopted a cat with my first pay-check.  I had walked passed her (in a pet shop) for 5-6 weeks on my way to and from work each day.  And decided that if she was still there on pay day she would be mine.

A few months later I looked into getting her home (NZ)  probably one of the most difficult places to take a pet.  I thought I could give her up when I left Korea, but there is something about her that changed my mind.  I was very fortunate to have a good friend to look after her when I went travelling with my Mum for 4 months.  And I missed her a lot.

I have been in Korea for almost 9 years, and am planning for us BOTH to return home.  There is a lot to do, most of it I have already done, but there are good vets here that know what is needed for us to take our critters back home with us.

I hate people adopting pets to give them up at the end of their contracts especially cats or dogs which DO get attached to their owners/masters/slaves.  I really like the fostering idea, but I think people need to think long term BEFORE they make a commitment.  I don't regret my decision in the least.  She has been great company, and is really friendly (although somewhat racist) towards guests.

kat - You didn't adopt a cat.  You bought a cat.

As I stated above, if someone wants to adopt a cat (providing they are willing to provide for it's lifelong care) they should go to an animal rescue or shelter.

I'm glad that your cat is okay - many cats bought in pet stores are inbred and are the product of puppy / cat mills.



http://origin.www.helpinganimals.com/ga_petstore.asp

Kids give them to you as a gift and then for that instant...the little animals puppy eyes get the better of you and you can't say no!...then after a few weeks you realise the responsibility and bad smell in your apartment creeps up on you...oh, boy...having a weakness for puppy eyes could get you into trouble...it's a learning school...i have to pull up my socks...and take the responsibility...th e dog is still adorable:)

It's kinda funny you mention this now! I was just asked by one of my students if I'd like one of his dog's new puppies. It was soooooooo tempting, cuz I love dogs and have been missing mine from back home like crazy. But I had to do the responsible thing and say no T_T

I agree with a lot of the posts on this thread that you shouldn't adopt a pet, especially a cat or dog, unless you plan on taking it home with you after leaving Korea. It's irresponsible to adopt a pet with the intent of only keeping it temporarily. Who's to say that you will find someone to take care of your dog or cat before you leave? Or that the person who takes care of your pet will treat the animal well? Better to adopt with the intent of taking it back with you OR do as others have suggested and foster a pet from a shelter.

I have two cats that I was ambushed with by my adult conversation class. Absolutely the best thing that has happened to me since coming here. After teaching 7 elementary classes, there is no better way to relieve some stress than a cat nap with my buddies. It also might sound strane, but after a long day its just a nice feeling to be in the quiet company of anything BUT 9 year olds.
I would never think about abandoning these cats; I actually decided against a graduate program because the pet import stipulations in that particular country were so rigerous. With the amount people claim they save on a yearly basis here in Korea, I don't see what the big deal would be in regards to bringing them back home.
I think owning a pet is a wonderful idea for anyone interested, provided one is willing to pay for the spaying/neutering/ and any necessary vaccinations, as well as save them a place for wherever they land next.

Boyfriends and girlfriends are too expensive.   ;)

I would like to discourage expats from getting animals in Korea unless you are really stable and sure of what you are doing when you return home. I was planning on returning to my hometown to work after I was finished in Korea and I was going to take my two cats with me. But then I was accepted into art school and I'll be living in student residence for two years. Now I have no choice but to re-home the cats because nobody in Canada will take them for that long.

And if nobody will take them I don't know what to do. I believed that I saved these cats from life in a shelter but now I wish I could go back in time and not gotten them at all, even though they have kept me happy these last two years.

What about your parents?

My girlfriend and I got a cat off the streets in Itaewon. Some lady was selling a few of them out a bird cage. We paid $20, and it's probably one of the best purchases I've ever made. Our cat Elphaba, is now almost 3 years old and she is the greatest pet I've ever had. We may or may not leave Korea one of these, but when we do she will be coming back with us to the States. However, I know many people who rescue or take in pets for short periods of time. I think with many of these pets it's impossible to say that a bit of care, love and affection can be bad for them. If you can provide a good home for them for even a short period of time, chances are it's better than their alternative. If you can responsibly find another home for the pet, then I think you've only done the animal a service. The exception of course would be someone who leaves the country and kicks their pet to the curb. Don't do that.

Because adopting a pet, even if for a short time, is better than them being locked in a cage at a shelter, or left to die on the street, or being put down. Also, while you have the pet, you are socializing it, making it that much likely to be adopted by a forever home later on. If you don't want to get a pet while you're here in Korea, then don't. But to the people who do adopt or foster then I say bravo, you're doing a good deed.

Just a heads up for people from the UK and Ireland.

If you are planning to adopt a pet, and then bring them back home with you, your pet will face an expensive six month quarantine upon entering either country.