Meat trade rescue dogs are more than just survivors - they're living, breathing individuals who deserve a second chance at a happy life. Many are saved from the meat trade in countries like China, where dogs are often raised for human consumption.
The majority of these rescue dogs are mixed breeds, with some being purebred. Their ages can range from puppies to adults, with some even being seniors.
Their backgrounds can be rough, but with love and care, they can thrive. Many rescue dogs have been found in inhumane conditions, such as being kept in small cages or being subjected to physical abuse.
Our Work
We're dedicated to rescuing dogs from the meat trade and giving them a second chance at a happy life. To date, Korean K9 Rescue has rescued and adopted out over 3,500 dogs.
Our mission is to bring an end to the dog meat trade forever, and we're making progress - the final bill was passed in the house to end the trade by 2027. We're also advocating for Lucy's Law, which would ban third-party sales of pet stores and dealers, promoting responsible breeding, and fostering a more humane welfare approach to pet ownership.
We partner with organizations like Jindo Love Rescue, which rescues dogs directly from the meat trade and finds them forever homes in the U.S. and Canada. Jindo Love Rescue has saved countless dogs from horrific abuse and torture.
In South Korea, we work with local activists to lobby the government to officially ban the dog meat trade. Our partner, Animal Rescue Korea (ARK), supports this effort and matches rescued dogs with caring homes abroad.
Here are some ways you can support our work:
- Adopt one of our sweet rescues
- Set up a monthly sponsorship payment to help care for our dogs
- Consider volunteering as a flight volunteer to help transport dogs from South Korea to their new homes
Partners and Impact
Korean K9 Rescue, a not-for-profit corporation, has been working tirelessly to rescue dogs from the dog meat trade in South Korea. They have a facility in Bundang that can rehabilitate up to 150 dogs at once.
Their team conducts comprehensive health screenings, provides vaccinations, and gives all rescues the total care they need to grow healthy and heal from their trauma. Thanks to supporters of their Critical Care Fund, senior dogs and those with special needs receive the extra attention they need.
Korean K9 Rescue partners with other organizations to rescue hundreds of dogs each year. They transport all their dogs to adoption teams in New York, Boston, and Los Angeles, where they live with volunteers while waiting for their forever families.
Jindo Love Rescue is another organization dedicated to rescuing dogs from the meat trade. They rescue dogs directly from the trade, as well as from local shelters and puppy mills. Sadly, many of these dogs don't have local rescues to turn to.
Animal Rescue Korea (ARK) has a similar mission, rescuing victims of the dog meat trade and matching them with caring homes overseas. They also support local activists in South Korea who are lobbying for a ban on the practice.
Here's a breakdown of some of the organizations mentioned:
By supporting organizations like these, we can make a difference in the lives of dogs trapped in the dog meat trade.
Adopting a Rescue Dog
Adopting a rescue dog can be a life-changing experience. You'll be giving a loving home to a dog who's survived the horrific meat trade in South Korea.
Dogs rescued from the meat trade are survivors of abuse and torture. Many of them are Korean Jindos, but not all of them - Jindo Love Rescue has a variety of breeds available for adoption.
You might be wondering about the age and size of the dogs available. The truth is, their histories are largely unknown, so breeds are only a best guess without a DNA test.
Adopting a rescue dog from Jindo Love Rescue means you'll be giving a forever home to a dog who's been pulled from the meat trade or a local shelter. This is often the only hope they have for escaping the cruelty of the dog meat trade.
These dogs are survivors, and adopting one is an indescribable experience, according to Patti Kim, President of Jindo Love Rescue.
Stopping the Trade
Stopping the Trade is a collective effort that requires commitment and action from individuals worldwide. Not partaking in the consumption of dog meat is a crucial step towards ending the trade.
Boycotting restaurants that serve dog meat sends a strong message to the industry that this practice is unacceptable. You can also send letters to these restaurants requesting they remove dog meat from their menus.
Writing letters to lawmakers to pass legislation recognizing cats and dogs as companion animals, not livestock, can lead to significant policy changes. This is a vital step in shifting the cultural narrative around dog meat consumption.
If you live in a country where dog meat is not consumed, you can still make a difference by starting or signing petitions to end the trade. Providing financial support to organizations on the front lines of dog meat farm rescue is also crucial.
Here are some ways to get involved:
- Start or sign petitions to end the trade
- Provide financial support to organizations on the front lines
- Volunteer with organizations like Harbin SHS Animal Rescue that rescue dogs from meat farms
- Adopt a dog from one of the rescue organizations on the front lines
Pet Trade
Millions of dogs and cats are brutally killed for meat across Asia.
In South Korea, dogs are farmed in appalling conditions.
Approximately 388,000 dogs are transported from farms to slaughterhouses and used as food in South Korea annually.
Reports suggest that 2 to 3 million dogs are slaughtered every year in Cambodia.
New laws set to come into force by 2027 in South Korea will ban the slaughter and sale of dogs for meat.
Stopping the Trade
Stopping the Trade is a complex issue, but there are many ways to make a difference. One of the first steps is to shut down dog meat farms, as our team in South Korea has done by identifying and closing a farm with nearly 200 dogs.
Boycotting restaurants that serve dog meat is another effective way to put pressure on the industry. This includes not partaking in the consumption of dog meat and sending letters to restaurants to request they remove it from their menus.
You can also make a difference by starting or signing petitions to end the trade. This can be a powerful way to raise awareness and build momentum for change.
Providing financial support for organizations on the front lines is crucial in rescuing dogs from meat farms. Consider donating to organizations like Harbin SHS Animal Rescue.
Adopting a dog from one of these rescue organizations is a wonderful way to give a loving home to a dog in need.
Sources
- Dog and Cat Meat Trade Prohibition Act of 2018 (congress.gov)
- 2 to 3 million dogs (bangkokpost.com)
- Harbin SHS Animal Rescue (harbinshs.com)
- Our Mission To Save Dogs From Dog Meat Trades NYC (koreank9rescue.org)
- Facebook page (facebook.com)
- A post shared by Humane Society International (@hsiglobal) (instagram.com)
- signed a petitionopens in a new tab (time.com)
- A post shared by Korean K9 Rescue π (@koreank9rescue) (instagram.com)
- on Patreonopens in a new tab (patreon.com)
- sponsoring a dog or catopens in a new tab (soidog.org)
- A post shared by μν¬(ꡬ κ³μμ°μλ―Όλ물보νΈμ) (@ark_animalrightskorea) (instagram.com)
- adoptopens in a new tab (arkanimalrescuekorea.com)
- ARKopens in a new tab (instagram.com)
- A post shared by Harbin SHS Animal Rescue (@slaughterhouse_survivors) (instagram.com)
- Dozens of dogs and puppies saved from grim meat trade ... (hsi.org)
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