We’re hearing more and more these days about the Korean dog meat trade and the dedicated organizations that are working to end the cruel practices employed in this market. Every year, an estimated 2 million dogs are farmed and slaughtered for human consumption, particularly in Asia but other places as well.
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This practice was first highlighted internationally during the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul. The South Korean government actually urged its citizens to refrain from consuming dog meat during the games so as to avoid bad publicity, asking butchers not to hang dog carcasses in their windows and even temporarily shutting down restaurants known for serving dishes such as boshintang – a Korean soup using dog meat as a primary ingredient. Though being defended as a cultural practice, the conditions in which these dogs are farmed remain widely unregulated and raise many concerns about sanitation and animal rights.
Several organizations, such as The Change for Animals Foundation, The Animals Asia Foundation, and In Defense of Animals are working to stop these inhumane practices and end the dog meat trade. Humane Society International has recently rescued fifty more dogs, thirty of which have been transported to The San Diego Humane Society.
“We have promised that we will absolutely take care of animals here in San Diego, and make sure that no healthy or treatable animal will be euthanized. We will keep that promise, but we had the capacity and the ability to open our doors for animals in need from elsewhere.”
Twenty-one of the dogs arrived last week, and nine more puppies are scheduled to arrive this Thursday, March 3rd. The dogs range from six-month-old puppies to adult dogs of two years of age, and their breeds are anything from Golden Retrievers to Mastiffs and Huskies, to name a few. The dogs are currently under quarantine to check for the presence of parvovirus or other diseases, and to receive the medical care they so desperately needed. Many dogs were malnourished and ill due to the deplorable conditions they were living in and their lack of food and medical attention, but they are being well take care of now by the good Samaritans of the San Diego Humane Society.
A puppy rescued from a South Korean mill plays with his very first toy, a tennis ball. Good choice, little fella!
San Diego Humane Society spokeswoman Stacy Archambault told the San Diego Tribune that many of the dogs were timid and scared. Like most meat farm dogs, they had lived their entire lives in filthy, cramped cages with minimal food or water, suffering abuse and very little if any kindness from humans. They are adjusting to their new lives and will be available for adoption as soon as they are medically cleared. Adopting one of these dogs will allow them to start healing and show them the warmth, protection, and love they deserve!
If you are considering rescuing a puppy mill or meat farm dog, SDHS has provided a wonderful source of information underneath their article on the September 2015 Korean dog rescue so scroll down and read up! These dogs will make wonderful pets, but it may take some patience and work for them to overcome their fears and adjust.
To learn more and assist in the effort to stop dog meat farming, please visit Humane Society International, In Defense of Animals, KoreanDogs.Org, Animals Asia, The Change For Animals Foundation, or one of the many others in support of ending this practice.
San Diego Humane Society accepts donations to aid them in the rescue and rehabilitation of these dogs and the many other local pups in need of help. Please consider donating here.
