Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Leaver]

I was going to post this in the pet adoption area but thought it might get more views here.

As I was window shopping after Christmas, I walked past a pet store that were keeping the animals in the most appalling conditions (no food, water, left out in the cold etc). Being a massive animal lover, I had to save them and spent 3 million won saving everything I could. (And yes, I do realise they'll just get more to replace them, but I just had to do it.)

But as you can imagine, living in a one room apartment, it's too much for me, smellwise and soundwise. I can't give them all the individual attention they deserve. But the main, and pretty much only reason, I'm selling these guys is that I'm leaving at the beginning of March as I've received a job offer in the UK (which I found out about after I bought the animals! Grrrr).

I would like to make back the money I spent, or at least close to it. All animals come with the cage I bought them in. I, however, do have conditions.

- I would prefer to give it to a Korean/Western couple who are settled in Korea.
- Whilst I will give you the animals in a cage, I would like if you would buy a bigger cage.
- I won't seperate any of the animals. They will only be sold in groups. Seperating the birds is a pain in the bum and they like each others company. I do however, have 3 birds that are on their own. I'm sure these birds would enjoy company of another bird, though they'd need a bigger cage.

I have these conditions as I couldn't bare the thought of distressing these animals even more then they have been and want to give them to nice, loving families who will take very good care of them. If people that aren't in a couple or married want to purchase some, I'd ask that you only enquire if you plan on being here for a good few years and promise to send them to a good home if you do leave.

Ok, Now to pricing and the types of animals I have:

1st cage (2 cages in 1) - About 8 swallow type birds in one cage and two medium sized lorikeet type birds in the other.

2nd cage (2 cages in 1) - 3 lovebirds in one, 5 peachfaces in the other.

3rd cage (2 cages in 1) - About 8 finch like birds in one, and two cockatiels in another.

4th cage (single cage) - 1 cockatiel (could do with a friend)

5th cage (single cage) - A peachface type bird, don't know the exact type, but a happy little chappy.

6th cage (single cage) - A king parrot. It's quite big but very quiet and adorable. Just watches you with curiosity.

7th cage - A family of about 6 rats - The idiots at the store tried to seperate them but the mom and dad went ballistic so I bought them all and want to sell them that way.

8th cage - A family of 3 mice - The mom is bossy and has some eye problems but they're still very cute.

9th cage - About 10 mice - funny little guys but need a bigger cage, as do all the animals.

10th and final cage - About 6 rabbits and 2 guinea pigs - I tried seperating the guinea pigs but they think they're rabbits and are happy staying with them.

The mice, rat, rabbits and birds that are in single cages I don't mind keeping around for a while but if you're interested, then no problem. I'm already attached to the little guys!

For the 2 cages in one, I'm asking for about 300 000 won. I would really rather not take anything lower but if you promise them to a good home, I can be swayed. The single cockatiel and the peachface type bird I'll sell for 50 000 won. The king parrot cost me 1 200 000 won so I'd be looking to get about 1 000 000 won or so. I'm thinking it's a rare bird for Korea.

The rabbits and guinea pigs can go for 200 000 won. The family of 3 mice are 60 000 won and the rats and other mice are 100 000 won each.

All of these prices are lower than what I paid for them, but as I said, the most important thing is that they go to a good home. You can contact me before 1:30pm or after 7:30pm Monday to Friday and anytime on the weekend. My email is [email protected] or call me on 010 - 2259 - 4498. Look forward to hearing from you! I can post pictures if you want.

By the way, I live in Osan if you'd like to visit them.

[sungmin1982]

You're selling rabbits and guinea pigs for 200,000? even if you were selling them all together, thats very pricey. You've been duped big time by the pet store... or you're a scam artist.

If you couldn't take the responsibility of taking care of the animals, you shouldn't have bought them...

[Leaver]

Well like I said, the ONLY reason I'm selling them is that I'm moving to the UK in March, which I only found out after I bought them. And whilst I might have been duped, I AM flexible with the price. Although with 8 animals, that comes to about 25 000 won each.

But I'll stress again, I AM flexible with the price. If you don't like it, don't buy them. I'd rather see them go to a good home than charge a fortune for them. The only reason I'm selling them as opposed to giving them away is that it cost me so much money, some of which I'll need to move to the UK. I WILL accept any reasonable offers.

[Dazed and Confused]

UHmmmm You do understand what the phrase "breed like rabbits" means, don't you? Please separate your rodents by sex or you will be overrun in a month or two.

[sungmin1982]

I am an animal lover myself... the dog I have I saved from being put to sleep 3 years ago.

The animals might have been better off at the pet store, since it they have already gotten used it. Animals do not think or feel the same way as we humans do. Once an animal gets attached to a person or a place, they make it their home and are comforted just by that one person or place. If I were you, I would take them back to the pet store... you might not get all your money back, and I really do respect you for what you have done... but these are birds and rodents...and they don't require much to feel comfort.

[Leaver]

Thanks for your concern. I really don't want to take them back there as I can't stand to see them seperated (although I'm sure the mice and rabbits will have to be soon), plus the problem with the pet store was that they weren't feeding them or giving them water......I'm surprised they lasted as long as they did. When I fed them, they devoured everything. I know I'm attached to them more than they are to me. I just want to see them off to a good home. If worse comes to worse, I'll give them away for free. But I'd like to make some of my money back, you know? But this definitely is not about the money. Again, thanks for your concern.

[sojourner1]

Would be fun to have them, but I know it would irresponsible to bring animals into my life. I'm single, take long vacations, and may not be able to accommodate them when moving or changing jobs. I hope you find a satisfying solution to thier problem, but it appears you've created a bigger problem than you found. Those animals didn't have much while on display, but they had to be feeding them when they go back to their cages inside the store each evening for it to be possible to keep them alive. I guess you didn't plan for what you'd do with them especially since you're going to put your life back on an airplane in just 2 months from now.

Not to flame you, but you just wasted 3 million won putting yourself in one awkward situation. I too have seen so many animals that I wanted to save, but know I can only further dislocate them as my modern jet age nomadic lifestyle without a permanent owned home base with a caretaker (nor fat bank account) is not compatible with caring for animals. Of course, you can pay extra to fly them around and get animal sitting services, but that would get prohibitively expensive. Would be good if you were settled, owned a place, and were staying a lifetime, but this is Korea, a land very far from home that you may not stay longer than just 2 more months. You might come back, but you have to find someone willing to temporarily adopt the animals until you return which is easier said than done. And then these small apartments don't make great living spaces like owning a house on land offers. Or you can take them home which will cost an arm and a leg I'm sure, but you'd more likely to find new homes for them as people tend to have larger homes, more resources like land and food, and larger soft hearts than is typical of Korea.

You simply can't save the world, unless you're wealthy, and then you really can't as there just so many dislocated animals and habitat destruction is pacing along at unprecedented rates due to men raping the Earth to make their money. There are wealthy folks who feel just like you and do care, but they too have constraints and limitations to work under due to how the modern day world operates which is incompatible with the preservation of animals and nature. I know you felt it your duty to step in, because no one else from the world probably won't come with a warm heart to save them. If you have plenty of money, then you can arrange to return them to their proper respective places back out into the world and support charities that support areas of protected habitat. Because I know I'm not rich, I don't poke my head into such issues that would just wipe me out completely at the bank and leave me high and dry.

I wish you the best in solving this problem. I didn't think any of us foreign teachers with only modest means would do this, but you did. Thanks for sharing your situation with us. Good luck to you and them.

[Leaver]

Thanks for your input. I do realise I'm in a bit of a sticky situation now. I honestly did not plan to leave for another year and a half but when this job offer came up and they accepted me, I couldn't refuse. I would've been quite happy to keep them until I decided to leave a few years down the track. I didn't plan to be leaving so quickly.

And yes, I sometimes tend to act before I think and it's gotten me into some pretty sticky situations before. hehe My family thinks I'm crazy for what I've done, as do many of you I suspect. I think my love and concern for the welfare of animals got the better of me. Putting down that much money to save animals is money well spent in my eyes. Money which probably would've been spent on some material thing I don't need. I don't intend to save the world, I know it's impossible. But when I saw this opportunity I took it, and now I have to face the repercussions. I really do enjoy having these guys around, and it's been quite cheap (so far).

I would really like them to go to homes of people who respect the welfare of animals. If it takes a lifetime, I'll make sure that happens.

[jackdaniels]

Pics would be a plus for your endeavour!

[Informer]

[CanadianBanana]

I would love to see some pics. I think breaking them up you would have much more luck selling them. Because nobody wants to take on like 8 animals at once even if they were free.

Good luck with your sale.

[Scamps]

I find your ad really suspicious.
Your actions were totally irresponsible.
Your intentions may have been good but you just made the problem bigger.
You know the petstores are just going to breed more animals to sell?They'll never be sold out.
I wonder how you even managed to get all of these animals back to your house? And didn't the petstores find it strange that a foreigner spent 3 million won to get so many pets. If they were responsible they would never allow such a thing.
Doesn't that show you they only care about money?
And now you're refusing to take them back to the store instead you're asking for only responsible people, preferably Korean/Western couples.
You really have some nerve!!

And by the way, I love animals myself. I go to an animal clinic in Chungmuro to buy my rabbit her food and I've seen the situation you described. It's terrible...so are all petstores. The solution is to avoid doing business with them! Supply and demand...

Anyway, the only thing besides returning them is to suggest you go to www.animalrescuekorea.org

They have a new shelter in Osan but it's for cats and dogs. Who knows, perhaps they will show you some sympathy and take your animals as well or at least offer you a better solution as to how to undo the mess you've made.

[Leaver]

Yes I really appreciate everyone coming on here just to tell me I'm an idiot for doing this. That helps my situation no end. I didn't post in the buy and sell forum to be judged, but to sell something. If you have no interest, please just leave it be.

I have admitted already that this was a mistake, now I'm doing my best to rectify it. I'd prefer to give them to couples living here indefinitely in order for them not to be passed on from person to person because the owners contract is up or they're sick of them. But if anyone else is interested in taking care of them, I'm open to all offers.

If need be, I'll split them up. But I'd still like them to be paired up if possible. I will look into the animal rescue site. I justed wanted to make back some of the money I foolishly spent. You're probably thinking I deserve to lose the money for doing something so stupid. I promise you that when I did this I had the best intentions, I just didn't think it through properly. And the petstore had nice people running it, they just didn't know how to look after their animals properly. And yes, they did think I was crazy for wanting to buy them all. And I may be irresponsible and thoughtless, but after caring for these guys and helping them to be reasonably healthy again, I couldn't bare taking them back to the pet store where they'll be somewhat neglected. Maybe you could do that, maybe you're a stronger person than I am. I feel so passionately about animals, I hate to see any in danger or neglected. I promise you I'm a nice person, just a bit frivolous when it comes to spending money on things I think are important.

Now for anyone that is interested at all, here are the pictures. Sorry they aren't the best quality, let me know if you have any more questions about them.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/33050724@N08/3159747258 - Parrot
http://www.flickr.com/photos/33050724@N08/3159747262 - Another of the parrot
http://www.flickr.com/photos/33050724@N08/3159747264 - Mice family
http://www.flickr.com/photos/33050724@N08/3159747270 - Rat family
http://www.flickr.com/photos/33050724@N08/3159747276 - Mice
http://www.flickr.com/photos/33050724@N08/3159747288 - Rabbits and 2 guinea pigs
http://www.flickr.com/photos/33050724@N08/3158922131 - Cockatiel
http://www.flickr.com/photos/33050724@N08/3158922133 - Not sure about this one (?)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/33050724@N08/3158922137 - Peachfaces and Lovebirds
http://www.flickr.com/photos/33050724@N08/3158922141 - Cockatiels and finch type birds
http://www.flickr.com/photos/33050724@N08/3158922147 - Finch like birds and lovebird type birds

That's all of them.

[Informer]

I think selling pets is just plain wrong.

They say a man's best friend is a dog.. i wouldnt sell my best friend to others.. why not just give them alway?

[Informer]

I just read your post again.. and i guess it went over it rather quick.

You have 10 cages in your home? WTF? .. isnt that a bit much.. i guess i shouldnt judge you. maybe u did a good thing picking up those animals from distress..

You must have a really big place to keep all these animals. are there health and safety codes that u are violating by having all these animals under one dwelling?

good luck with your sale.