196 Dogs Saved From South Korea’s Declining Dog Meat Trade To Find Homes In US

Shelters in Ohio, Maryland and Pennsylvania among those offering the dogs for adoption.

HSI staff at the farm in South Korea. Credit: HSI

As public attitudes in South Korea increasingly turn against the dog meat trade, organizations like Humane Society International (HSI) have been working with the flailing dog meat industry to shut down farms and help rescue animals.

Now, HSI’s latest rescue has saved 196 dogs from the dog meat trade, with the lucky canines set to be offered for adoption in the U.S. 

Golden retrievers, a poodle, Korean jindos and mastiffs, Pomeranians, terriers and a Labrador, are among the dogs who were found at the dog meat farm in Haemi, South Korea. 

Credit: HSI

After HSI’s lengthy rescue effort that involved quarantines and veterinary treatment, the dogs will be provided shelter in the DC area, with warm beds and nutritious food for the first time in their lives. 

From there, organizations across the country will step in to offer the dogs temporary shelter while they await their adoption to a forever home. The shelters taking in the rescued dogs are:

• SPCA Cincinnati (Cincinnati, Ohio)

• Delaware Valley Golden Retriever Rescue (Reinholds, Pennsylvania)

• Humane Society of Calvert County (Sunderland, Maryland)

• Homeward Trails Animal Rescue (Fairfax Station, Virginia)

• Petey and Furends (Rockville, Maryland)

Of the 196 dogs saved, 170 were rescued from a single dog meat farm which closed down in a partnership between the farmer and HSI. The other 26 dogs were from previous rescues and were waiting in temporary shelter, whilst waiting until now due to COVID-19 travel restrictions. 

This latest rescue marks the 17th dog meat farm that HSI has permanently closed down, as support grows in South Korea for a ban on dog meat consumption. In a recent poll, 84% of the population say they don’t or won’t eat dog dogs, and almost 60% support a legislative ban on the trade. 

Attitudes in South Korea are changing fast, too: the poll also reported that 57% of South Koreans believe dog meat consumption reflects poorly on Korea, increasing from 37% in 2017. 

“Although most people in South Korea don’t regularly eat dog meat, and support for a ban is growing, there remain thousands of farms of all sizes across the country where dogs of all breeds endure a harsh existence”, explains Kelly O’Meara, HSI’s vice president of companion animal campaigns. 

“With fewer people wanting to eat dog, farmers can see the writing is on the wall for this dying industry and so they work with HSI to find a solution that gives both them and their remaining dogs a chance of a new life. With such interest from dog farmers, and public support, we hope the Korean government will adopt this type of approach to phase out the dog meat industry for good.”

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