There is a group of about 40 Korean expats living in North America that you may not have heard of. Despite the extremely hard times they’ve been through, they’re a happy, healthy and beloved group. They’re also all dogs. 

Team Inch, the organization responsible for relocating them, was set up in 2013 by likeminded foreigners and Koreans who all shared a love for sighthounds ― a family of dogs that includes greyhounds and whippets.

The volunteer-run project started when a group of people banded together to save an abandoned greyhound named Inch.

Inch was covered in scars and weighed only half of what he now weighs in his new Canadian home with his “mother” and one of the founding members of Team Inch, Samara Schmidt.

“Sighthounds face essentially the same problems many dogs face in Korea; because they are most often larger dogs, it is very difficult for them to find homes in Korea as most people live in small quarters or apartments,” Schmidt said.

“Additionally, the greyhound racing industry ... in Korea provides many challenges in itself during and when their careers are over.”

Team Inch relies on volunteers to assist by paying for the abandoned dogs’ veterinary fees and travel costs to help find them a home in North America. This can prove to be very costly as sighthounds need to be transported as “live cargo” due to their size.

Schmidt says this can often cost upward of $1,500 per dog.

In addition, because of the living conditions the dogs have previously endured, many of them have contracted heartworm, which is also very expensive to treat.

Schmidt says the organization works to find individual solutions for each dog.

“Currently we have a whippet named Courage whom we are trying to save after he was hit by a car and nearly killed. His treatment and expenses will need to be paid for by donations from our supporters,” Schmidt explained.

Courage was found on the side of the road in Yeosu, South Jeolla Province, with his leg broken in two places and other injuries. Team Inch acted quickly to adopt the dog before his pound lease of 10 days ran out as no one had claimed him.

After a call out to their supporters that resulted in a flood of donations and a discount from the vet, Team Inch was able to put Courage into surgery and start the process of healing his leg so he can walk again.

“Courage’s surgery went well, but unfortunately the site has gotten an infection,” Schmidt said. “So he is currently staying at the vet where they can care for his illness and he continues to fight.”

Courage is expected to make a full recovery in the next two to three months and will then accompany a volunteer who is flying to North America, but more funds are still needed.

Courage is not alone in his plight.

Team Inch has been rapidly inundated with requests of care and transport since they started.

“We are getting well known, and people often contact us if they know of a sighthound in need of help. This is also aided by our willingness to work with other rescuers and shelters,” Schmidt said.

The organization is building an increasingly large network in North America and Schmidt said that given the right circumstances they would consider establishing contacts in different countries.

For updates on Courage’s condition, visit Team Inch’s Facebook page or teaminch.org.

By Elliott Brennan (ebrennan@heraldcorp.com)