Source: http://www.ohmynews.com/NWS_Web/view/at_pg.aspx?CNTN_CD=A0001183685

Regretably, according to the news source above, some dogs that are being adopted out of shelters are disappearing and more than likely ending up as dog meat.

Here is a loose translation of parts of the news item.

Every summer, the stench of burning fur can be smelt at Moran Market. Dog meat restaurants serve people who proclaim that eating dog meat is a Korean cultural tradition, that nobody has the right to stop people eating whatever they want and that dogs raised as pets and as food are different.

In June of 2009, a phone call was received by Korean Animal Welfare Association. A person was moving and could not take all their dogs. This person had been involved in adopting stray dogs from the Animal Freedom Association. A promise was made to re-adopt them to a new family.

Then, a phone call came in from the same person saying the dog was sent to the country. Unfortunately, what “sending the dog to the country” means is bad news. It does not mean a place where dogs are free to romp around in the green grassy lawn with fresh air and peaceful surroundings. Sending a dog to the country means to send the dog to a slaughter house to be processed into dog meat or dog tonic.

Since the summer dog meat season was approaching, there was no time to lose. But asking about the whereabouts of the dog was futile and it would be difficult to find the dog. The dog owner’s attitude had changed. He said to let bygones be bygones and not to get involved any further.

One of the reasons for such an cold and callous reply could be that the dog had already been eaten. The person had sent the big dogs to the country to be killed for dog meat. He brought the smaller dogs back to the Korean Animal Welfare Association. That was how the fate of the dogs was revealed.

Gurumi was adopted, then made into dog tonic.

The companion of the dog owner took all the big dogs to his father when the dog owner was away and the father quickly took the dogs to Busan’s Gupo Market and were made into dog tonic for the father to drink.

The above story goes to show that to a dog meat eater, there is no difference between a dog raised for dog meat and a pet dog. The horrible reality is that any dogs who are adopted are in danger of ending up as dog meat.

Dogs are usually docile unless their lives are threatened. To control dogs the most hideous and inhumane acts of violence are undertaken by the dog meat industry. Thus, it goes without saying that the dog meat industry is one of the most vile and violent of animal abusers.

During the transport process, a dog is beaten into submission by pipe sticks, ropes, and whatever weapon there is.

Before transporting, dogs are crumpled into a heap on top of each other.

There are too many stray dogs. About 80-90% of dogs sold at pet shops or vets end up in shelters.

In 2008, the animal welfare law stipulated that dogs were companion animals. But still, they are eaten as dog meat. Cultural tradition can be acknowledged, but that does not mean that all culture is right, especially if it involves torture and abuse.

That is why the so-called culture of dog eating and the dog meat industry is being challenged by a number of Korean citizens. It is a fight between the dog meat eaters and the protesters of abuse. The fight against cruelty and suffering leads Korean citizens to try to make positive changes, not only because the eyes of the Western world is upon Korea.