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Dogs Rescued From South Korea Meat Farms Arrive In The United States

By Jennifer Deutschmann
Published on: 08:00 PST, May 4, 2016

Dogs rescued from South Korea meat farms are arriving in the United States this week. A total of 250 dogs, of numerous ages, sizes, and breeds, were rescued by Humane Society International and are being transported to shelters throughout the United States and Canada for future adoption. Officials confirmed some of the dogs spent their entire lives in small crates awaiting slaughter.

Gong In-young, who owned one of the farms shut down by Humane Society International, admitted it is time for a change. Although South Korea’s dog meat farms were once a thriving business, In-Young said the demand for dog meat has waned in recent years.

In an interview with Japan Times, Gong explained dog meat was an ideal alternative when other meats were in short supply and therefore outrageously expensive. However, as other meats have become readily available and more residents are keeping dogs as pets, later generations are hesitant to purchase and consume dog meat.

A Gallup Korea poll revealed that “only 20 percent of men in their 20s had consumed dog meat in the past year, compared to half of those in their 50s and 60s.” However, an estimated 1.5 to 2.5 million dogs are still slaughtered and sold as food by South Korea meat farms each year.

Korea is not alone in their consumption of dog meat. In China, tens of thousands of dogs and puppies are slaughtered for consumption during the annual Yulin Dog Meat Festival.

Although eating dog meat is a tradition in some countries, animal rights activists believe the tradition is cruel.

In an effort to curb the practice, Humane Society International offers South Korea’s dog meat farmers up to $60,000 to surrender their dogs and use their land for more humane business.

Gong In-young said he kept a stock of approximately 200 Golden Retrievers, Japanese Tosas, Korean Jindos, Rottweilers, and Siberian Huskies, which were slaughtered and sold for around $200 each. Every year, he sold an estimated 200 dogs for consumption.

Although he is giving up his business, In-young said he “realized the dogs will become a lot happier” when they are adopted into loving homes.

Humane Society International’s efforts are also part of a larger campaign to clean up the province’s image in anticipation of the 2018 Winter Olympics.

Larmier, Colorado, Humane Society Executive Director Judy Calhoun explained, “The South Korean government knows there will be a lot of attention and they want that to be positive and after what happened in Sochi during the 2014 Olympics, they are particularly aware that they want some of their animal issues to be more positive than what occurred in Sochi.”

Although the dogs in Sochi were not sold for consumption, the city’s population of stray dogs was visibly out of control during the Olympics. As the dogs were approaching visitors, many were forcibly removed from the streets or killed.

Earlier this week, 10 of the South Korea dogs arrived at the Larimer Humane Society in Fort Collins, Colorado. As reported by KRDO, Calhoun confirmed the dogs are already making progress in acclimating to their new environment.

“I am honored and kind of overwhelmed that we’re able to help with this situation… These dogs are, even in just less than 24 hours, really starting to come around. And they are beautiful animals.”

CBS DFW reports the SPCA in Dallas, Texas, received six of the dogs rescued from the South Korea meat farms.

SPCA representative Maura Davis said, “It’s an amazing rescue … that many dogs saved is a really big deal. All of those two hundred and fifty dogs have gone to shelter partners across the United States and even into Canada.”

The dogs rescued from Gong In-young’s South Korea meat farm will be placed with families in Canada and the United States. However, thousands of similar farms are still active throughout the country. Humane Society International is dedicated to reducing those numbers.

[Image via Ksenia Raykova/Shutterstock]

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