In the United States, July and August are prime BBQ months. In Korea, the summer is the time when eating dog meat becomes popular.
Although eating dog meat was officially banned in 1991, people in South Korea still consume vast quantities of “Gaegogi” (literally: dog meat) the fourth most popular meat, after pork, beef and chicken. There is even an unofficial ‘holiday’ known as 'Malbok' (August 17 in the Korean lunar calendar) when Koreans - mostly old men - eat lots of dog meat in the belief that it will boost virility. Others believe that dog meat helps keep one cool during the intense Korean summer.
In Defense of Animals has been a leader in exposing this horror by holding protests and vigils. Their next scheduled protest will be held in front of New York’s Korean Visa Office, at 460 Park Avenue, (57th St. & Park Avenue) on July 14, 2009 4-6:30 PM,
Comments
I don't know why Korea has to be singled out. Dog is also eaten in Vietnam, China and parts of South America.
Lastly, eating dog IS illegal in Korea. That's probably why the slaughter of dog is so unhumane. It's not regulated.
So... the Korean government has already made it against the law...
Edward, you have to start somewhere. They are violating laws.
Helen,
Koreans are being unfairly singled out. It's discriminatory.
Dog is eaten elsewhere. This is very very clear. Just look up dog meat in wiki.
Lastly... what is the logic of protesting the Korean embassy when the Korean government has already banned the consumption of dog? The answer? There is no logic in it whatsoever.
Of course China, Vietnam, etc. shouldn't be killing and eating dogs either. However, I think it is great that IDA and others are pushing for enforcement of humane laws. Enforcement is key. Humane laws everywhere need to be passed and enforced. These dogs are helpless, innocent creatures that need us to speak up for them. All cultures have much progress to make to become more humane and compassionate societies, and anything we do anywhere to lead this world towards becoming more compassionate is a merciful, worthy, and noble effort.
Angel, absolutely agree that dog eating anywhere is not right. Attention should be pointed to that. However, I think it' wrong to associate dog eating with an entire nation and group of people.
Dog eating does not equal Korea and vice versa. Attention should be pointed towards dog eating internationally. It's an international problem not just a Korean problem.
The IDA's heart appears to be in the right place but it's totally pointing in the wrong direction or worse, distracting from the larger problem in addition to offending an entirely group of people unfairly.
Look, I love dogs A LOT. But I don't want to be the ugly American going around to other countries telling them what they should or should not eat.
I know a lot of people who get upset about Europeans eating horses. I say, as long as you're eating any animal at all, you have no right to criticize.
All animal life is sacred. A dog is not more worthy of life than a cow.
i rarely send messages on these pages. but when i hear stupid comments like this it anoys the hell outof me. there is a diference between eating a pig or cow that is humanely killed to eating a dog that has been burned alive.
The protest is taking place so In Defense of Animals can raise its profile with the public and get more donations. With Animal rights groups, it's all about fund raising. The Koreans make an easy target that isn't going to fight back. They also get to mine the many people who love animals and add their names to their mailing lists. While we culturally don't eat dog, many cultures do. And has been said Korea has outlawed the practice. This is like PETA dressed up.
The fact IDA focuses on dog abuse and slaughter in Korea does not mean it condones other countries' similar practices. If one chooses to make a difference somewhere, should the person be criticized for not doing so in other places? I don't understand the "singling out" logic. The same can be said about killing other animals. I personally do not believe humans should be abusing and killing any sentient beings. But someone who speaks against killing dogs is not saying it is ok to kill other animals. We have to start somewhere as Helen said, and when each person makes a difference in one small area, the world will be a better place for the animals - and for humans as well. We will be free from the debt of cruelty we have inflicted on other lives. Gandhi said, "The greatness of a nation and its progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated."
Edward, you are either speaking intentionally falsely or are unaware that Kore kills 2 million dog and hunfdreds of thousands of cats, whereas Vietnam and Indonesia, and even Africa together consume a few tens of thousands of dogs. More than the eating part is the cruelty part which is so offensive. They are stuffe dinto caged like chickens in 100 degree heat unable to move a limb. Where is your humanity?
With a little research you will see that the treatment of dogs before they are eaten is something quite horrific in Korea. They torture these poor animals, beat them, and put them through unimaginable pain before they are finally killed. All because of some archaic belief that this will make them more virile.
Yes it is illegal - but the Korean government do not enforce their own laws - therefore they are by all intents useless.
Our goal is to raise awareness and in doing so put pressure on the Korean government to do something.
Every day we do nothing is another day these dogs suffer in silence. They are sentient creatures who feel anxiety, pain, fear and sadness. It is our obligation to protect those that are defenceless and cannot speak for themselves.
It is easy to sit back and criticize, but it takes courage to try and make a real change
If they keep on torturing animals to death, then I for one will be praying that they all die in earthquakes etc. Sure, there are cultural differences resulting in them thinking dogs are fair game - understood. But there is NO excusing the brutality they insist on. I wish these subhumans just did not exist, as they are sadistic and don't appear to know or care about it - big problem.
Hi. I'm Korean American. I never ate a dog. But I fully support it. Why?
How arrogant is it that people can think that killing other animals that are just as intelligent, if not more so (like pigs) more brutally and on a bigger scale then dogs in Korea is fine? How can you say that a dog is worth more then a pig?
Unless you are a vegetarian (in which case I respect you) I find it utterly hypocritical to commend others for eating dogs while you eat bacon. Cultural superiority, anyone?
I agree that horrid treatment of dogs needs to stop. That being said, why not spend time on humane treatment of pigs? Pigs are far more widely abused and killed.
I also find it horribly ironic that you mention BBQ on the same page as dog eating - how is BBQ any less horrific to animal lovers then eating dogs? BBQ entails exactly the same thing - killing intelligent, innocent, helpless animals and eating them. I see no difference, just a lot of hypocrisy.
Hmmm... maybe that's the point..???
This is absolutley horrible!! This has to stop!! I am a vegan, and i REALLY LOVE animals! Especially dogs and cats!
I wish all of these people that work there to hell.!!
I HATE THEM SO MUCH!!
Yes it is in many asian countries, not just Korea, they are all sick sub-human freaks and should be exterminated as any human mamul that tortures and kills others. It litterally means they are socail pathic and thus it's OK to whipe them off the plannet for the over-all good of the earth!
I think that all this dog eating shoutl be stopped because its cruel and mean they shouldnt be aloud to eat dogs. Eat something else like Americans do eat a cow and the way they kill these dogs Nd torture them need to be stopped
Lame and Dake, you guys are idiots! You guys think that it's OK to let those sickos eat the poor dogs! While Lorraine and most of us are truly against animals, are you guys for it? You guys really should be locked up if so. It really makes me sick to even think that people like you guys are completely against dogs or any other animals. You guys are not here to show any concern for those poor dogs! Whoever has at least half of the clue will literally treat dogs like man's best friend.
Ekaterina, you want to start calling names, we can call names. Lets start by calling you a complete naïve, I’ll believe anything I read, moron. I happen to be Korean and we my dear, DO NOT EAT DOG, nor have I ever seen dog meat, or have ever been offered it. I actually grew up with two dogs and they are still healthy and alive! We are not barbarians; this is not the 1800s. We don’t go running around snatching up our neighbor’s puppies, so we can make dinner, you fool.
No normal human being would ever do this to another animal let alone one we call “man’s best friend”. I happen to LOVE my dogs. Thee is treated like Kings. Do me a favor and get with Emily down there, and do your research. Then you can make an “educated” argument as to why I am an idiot.
Eating any senscient being is immoral and ungodly, however, making that animal suffer threefold, skinning a cat alive boiling a dog alive and cutting off a horses´s legs while it is alive is not only sadistic but satanic. Dog or cat eating is NOT ILLEGAL in South Korea, I have relatives who live there who tell me it goes on all the time. I think Edward, you are confusing South and North Korea. Dog eating is illegal in North Korea, you know North Korea, the country that is under a powerful communist regime in case you do not know. Dog eating is common in Vietnam. I am not sure about Indonesia though, because dogs are seen as animals of the underworld there, people do not come close to a dog let alone touch it. I lived in Jacarta 2 years ago but will do some reasearch and see if things have changed. However in China and South Korea eating dog meat unfortunately is common practice. The problem with the chinese is that they will eat anything that moves.
Please everybody to not call each other names. Buddha quote 'when having debate, avoid to call names'. Everybody have the right to express their angers or thoughts and we can do is listen and agree or disagree. I am not saying it is easy to done that. I have never eat dogs or cats but I used to lived in Singapore and our maid may have feed us with cat or dog meat without us aware of it (I hope not so). I have some friends from Philipiness, Korean, Vietnam, Indonsiea, China, Japan and more from Asia. All of them say they never eat cat/dog meats but years later, some of them confess to me that they does eat cat/dog meat they didnt want to tell me because they knew I would protest at them. They explained that buying cow or sheep meat very expensive so they buy cat/dog meat more cheaper. All I can say no one can eat cat/dog include horse because they are domestic animals to work close with people. Cows, sheeps, others are not domestic animals because of their intelligences.
I would never visit Korea if this is what they do!!
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