In America, we tend to think of man as dog’s best friend. In fact, it’s estimated that there are over 70 million of them kept as pets throughout the country. But on the other side of the world in South Korea, it’s a whole other tragic story. There, dog meat is considered a delicacy and it’s estimated that over 2.5 million dogs per year are served up in the meat trade, amounting to around 100,000 tons being consumed per year. The estimated value of their meat trade is around $2 billion, but it’s not stopping an American animal rescue group from stepping up to help make positive changes.
“It’s a tragic story for our best friends over in South Korea,” explains Robert Misseri, president of Guardians of Rescue, an animal rescue organization. “They are suffering from mass slaughter and being served up in over 20,000 restaurants in that country. We plan to do what we can to help the dogs.”
Guardians of Rescue is launching a campaign called “Real Men Don’t Eat Dog,” which will have former military members and advocates on the ground, assessing the brutal industry. They will rescue as many dogs from the slaughterhouses as are possible. Guardians of Rescue will be rescuing as many dogs as they can from the South Korea meat trade and bringing them back to America on December 18, 2014. The dogs will be landing at JFK airport, and will become companion pets, and adopted out to good homes.
The dogs in the meat industry are routinely beaten, electrocuted, hung, and stolen right from homes where they are kept as pets. Additionally, they ask that due to the cruelty of the dog meat trade industry in South Korea, that consumers use good judgment when it comes to purchasing Korean-imported products. Some leather products could be made from dog leather, which is a by-product of the meat industry.
Consuming dog meat in South Korea is a tradition that dates back 7,000 years. They also believe it is a healthier meat than other varieties. In recent years, however, eating dog meat there has become more controversial even among those from South Korea, as they debate the cruelty of the industry. There are animal rights groups there today fighting to raise awareness about the trade and get people to abstain from it.
“This is a social tragedy that is taking place and we want to shed light on it, help educate people, and rescue some of the dogs,” said Misseri. “We look forward to bringing these dogs back to America, where they will be treated well and be given a great Christmas.”
Guardians of Rescue provides assistance to animals out on the streets, helping to rescue them, provide medical care, food and shelter, and find foster home placement. To learn more, or to make a donation to support the Guardians of Rescue, log ontowww.guardiansofrescue.org.