The President of South Korea Just Adopted a Dog Who Was Rescued From a Meat Farm!

In South Korea alone, two million dogs are slaughtered a year for their meat. The dogs, some of which are bred for consumption while others are captured homeless dogs or even stolen pets, live a miserable existence in farms that closely mirror the horrors of factory farms. Dogs spend their lives trapped in small, barren wire cages, without any access to proper care or even the most basic needs.

Learning about the dog meat trade is nothing but distressing for any animal lover. But knowing there are countless organizations, activists, and celebrities urging for a ban on the dog meat trade gives us hope. Great strides have been made to ban the dog meat trade and we will continue to fight. In April, we got word that Taiwan will become the first Asian country to ban the consumption of dog and cat meat. What’s more, the majority of citizens in China do not agree with the dog meat trade and have been actively working to end this barbaric practice.

And now we have even more promising news in the fight to end the cruel dog meat trade! The country’s new President, Moon Jae-in promised during the election that he would adopt a dog from an animal sanctuary … and he did!

Moon Jae-in followed through on his campaign promise and adopted a dog from Animal rights group Coexistence of Animal rights of Earth (CARE). 

The announcement came from the Cheong Wa Dae (“The Blue House” Facebook page, which is the President’s official residence in Seoul). The adorable dog named Tory is the country’s new “First Dog”

South Korea’s Yonhap news agency notes that the adoption of Tony is the first time a shelter dog has become a “First Dog” 

CARE campaigns against the brutal dog meat trade in Asia so President Moon’s adoption of Tory is being hailed as a strong message against the trade. 

CARE rescued Tory from a dog meat farm two years ago, but had trouble finding him a home due to prejudices against black dogs in South Korea. Looks like little Tory now has the perfect home with President Moon! 

Tory joins President Moon’s other two pets, a dog called Maru and a former shelter cat named Jjing-jjing. 

According to Yonhap new agency, President Moon says the adoption shows, “that both humans and animals should be free from prejudice and discrimination.”

While President Moon has yet to enact a ban on the dog meat trade, instead focusing on phasing out the industry, many in South Korea see the President’s adoption of Tory as sending a strong message in Support of animal rights.

For more information on the amazing work Coexistence of Animal rights on Earth (CARE) does to protect our four-legged friends, visit their website here. Please consider making a donation in Support of their life-saving work to end the dog meat trade.

And please, always adopt and never shop!

Lead image source: Cheong Wa Dae/Facebook