Sheri, left, an Afghan Hound, and her cage mate moments prior to being rescued. Jean Chung for HSI
Animal rescuers from Humane Society International have saved more than 170 dogs languishing on a squalid dog meat farm in South Korea, a mere two-hour drive from where the country will host the 2018 Winter Olympics in 10 weeks’ time.
The charity is flying the dogs to shelters in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, to receive care and rehabilitation.
Adam Parascandola, HSI’s Director of Animal Protection and Crisis Response, rescues Ava, a golden retriever headed to Pennsylvania
The dog meat farm in Namyangju is one of an estimated 17,000 dog farms in South Korea breeding more than 2.5 million dogs a year for human consumption.
The stated vision of the 23rd Winter Olympic Games is ‘new horizons’, explicitly appealing to the younger generation and aspiring to create a ‘cultural new horizon’ where traditional and world culture converge.
HSI believes that with young Koreans increasingly rejecting dog meat, there has never been a better time to phase out the dog meat trade and usher in the ‘cultural new horizon’ of compassion.
“I’ve worked in animal protection for many years but I can tell you, seeing these dog farms for myself has been one of the most emotionally confronting things I’ve ever done,” said HSI’s President Kitty Block who joined the dog farm rescue effort. “As we count down to the Winter Games, it’s clear that it’s not sufficient for South Korea to temporarily hide the dog meat trade in the shadows when the world’s media shines its Olympics spotlight. What’s needed is a commitment to phase it out for good.”
HSI President Kitty Block, at right, helps remove dogs from the farm. Jean Chung for HIS
At the Namyangju farm, dogs including: golden retrievers, spaniels, beagles, greyhounds, as well as Korean Jindos, and mastiffs, were being kept in filthy and deprived conditions, spending their whole lives in rows of barren wire cages, exposed to the elements with no veterinary care whatsoever.
HSI found many of the dogs suffering from eye infections, skin disease, as well as painful leg and paw sores from endless days of standing and sitting on thin wire mesh.
Their fate would have been to be killed by electrocution at the local market or slaughterhouse, and made into spicy soup called bosintang, had they not been saved by HSI.
HSI is one of many organizations working diligently to combat the horrific dog and cat meat trade.
Animal Hope and Wellness Foundation, Animals Asia, In Defense of Animals, and Last Chance For Animals are among other prominent organizations fighting to save the innocent dogs and cats that fall victim to this barbaric trade.
We Must Work Together To END The Dog & Cat Meat Trade!
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