The story of Harriet is one that reminds us that even after physical wounds heal, it’s the emotional scars that linger.
Harriet is a gorgeous black pup that was rescued from a Korean meat farm and taken to the Humane Society of Tampa Bay.
Harriet arrived at the shelter scared, sad and exhausted after years of being kept in horrific living conditions with no shelter from the freezing wind and snow.
The frightened little Korean Jindo had been stuck in a cramped cage at a dog meat farm in Wonju, South Korea, with about 200 other dogs .
The dog meat farm in Wonju, South Korea, from which Harriet was rescuedHumane Society International
She and the other dogs had no soft bedding, slept in their own filth and were thrown in food to fatten them up.
The dog meat farm in Wonju, South Korea, from which Harriet was rescuedHumane Society International
“They’re tortured, and they aren’t always dead when they skin them,” Nash McCutchen, marketing coordinator for the Humane Society International, told The Dodo . “It’s a terrible existence.”
The dog meat farm in Wonju, South Korea, from which Harriet was rescuedHumane Society International
But thankfully for Harriet and 13 other dogs they were rescued by the Humane Society International and taken to the the Humane Society of Tampa Bay in Florida.
Yet despite being thousands of miles away from her former home Harriet was still traumatised.
If she went outside she just stood frozen on the spot – and she found it difficult to settle.
But a video taken by one of the shelter’s volunteers Leslie Menichino shows how confused she is about how to lay down on her bed.
She is seen standing on top of a pink and black blanket underneath her before she quickly dozes off – and then almost falls over.
In a post on the society’s Facebook page, Leslie said: “Even though our Korean pups are doing well and beginning to adjust, they are still suffering from the horror they endured.
“This video shows Harriet falling asleep standing up because she doesn’t understand that she can use the bed provided for her.
“Don’t worry, she was shown gently how to lay down and rest.
“These dogs have been on an arduous journey and still have a long way to go, but we are hopeful that wagging tails and snuggley beds will become their norm.”
“Being a witness to it brings to tears to my eyes and such happiness,” Menichino said.
“There’s still a lot of work to do for her to become comfortable enough for her to go into a home,” McCutchen said. “We’re just going to take care of her here until that happens.”
Harriet is making steady progress though and she has already taken treats from a volunteer’s hand and gone for a walk on a lead. We hope that Harriet and the other rescued dogs find loving forever homes that provide them with love and soft, warm beds for the rest of their lives. SHARE AWAY !
