Idyllwild dog saved from Korean slaughterhouse

A local man, Bill Niedzwiecki, discovered that the rescue dog he adopted two years ago has a strange and terrible back story. The black Labrador, now known as Abby, was rescued by animal rights activists from an illegal South Korean dog meat slaughterhouse along with a number of other dogs. Members of that rescue team visited Idyllwild to reunite with Abby and visit Mayor Max Monday, Oct. 16.

Bill Niedzwiecki and his rescued dog Abby.
PHOTO BY DAVID JEROME

Bill is retired after a busy work life, including 20 years in the Air Force, and is now “flag office” at American Legion Post 800. A longtime visitor, he has been a full-time Idyllwild resident for about two years. His sister owns a home here, and he also has a residence in Thousand Trails. Here is his story.

He had recently lost a black Lab, one of many with whom he has shared his life. While camping in Acton he got online to see if any other black Labs were available for adoption. He found a dog named Blossom being fostered “just down the road” in Lancaster. He visited, met the dog, and asked them to hold her until he finished his camping trip.

“But as soon as I got back to my camp, I called them back: ‘I want that dog!’” He towed his trailer back to Idyllwild, then turned around and returned to Lancaster. Rechristened Abby, the well-socialized animal immediately got along with Bill’s other two Labs, Colton (yellow) and Morgan (chocolate.)

The foster caregiver had mentioned to Bill that Abby came from Korea. He had also been told the name of the organization that bought her to the U.S., Last Chance for Animals (LCA). “At some point I got online, Googled LCA and found this video … I was amazed.” The video shows two members of LCA picking the dog up at LAX and taking her for her first walk on American asphalt. “I’ve watched that video a hundred times thinking, ‘How did this dog end up with me?’” (Google “LCA Blossom” to watch the video.)

He spoke with the people at an agency called START Rescue, who had done all the paperwork involved with importing the animals, and from them learned of the Korean animal rights group called Animal Liberation Wave (ALW). This group, a sister organization to LCA, infiltrated the illegal dog meat trade and “sprang” this particular group of nine dogs. They lobby the government to, among other things, close loopholes in Korean laws that ban slaughtering dogs or selling their meat, but still allow private consumption. Abby appears as a poster dog on fliers advertising this type of rescue work, as one of the “lucky nine.”

Bill has since hosted a number of visits from members of LCA and START, and this week a delegation of four from ALW in Korea came to Idyllwild. The four had come to California to attend meetings and receive an award at LCA’s 35th anniversary gala at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills. Two of them were among the activists who rescued Abby. Bill had told the group their visit would include a meeting with Idyllwild’s “mayor,” but left out the fact of Mayor Max’s canine status.

The ALW visitors included Jiyen Yee, founder and president; Hee Ji, investigator and campaigner; Joong Wan, investigator and videographer; and Seung Chan Lee, investigator and photographer. They were pleased to see the progress enjoyed by American dogs and delighted to meet the mayor and his associates.

Bill continues to help animals: he volunteers with ARF and also did a spell with Living Free. He is a summer ranger at Thousand Trails.

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