Transformation of Terrified Dog Rescued From Meat Farm Will Give You Hope

In the U.S., the thought of consuming dogs is absolutely abhorrent. We see dogs as special animals, separate from the farm animals we’ve designated for consumption. Dogs, cats, and other “companion” animals are elevated to a higher status and treated with nothing but love and respect, but this isn’t the case in all parts of the world.

In parts of Asia, consuming dog meat is considered culturally acceptable. While perceptions towards eating dog are changing in parts, South Korea remains the only country known to have large, intensive farming systems to supply the demand for dog meat. Sadly, the demand for dog meat recently surged in the country in preparation for the Bok Nal summer festival.

According to Humane Society International (HSI), “An estimated 2.5-3million dogs a year endure lives of extreme deprivation on South Korea’s dog farms where they are bred for human consumption. Most of these dogs will be killed during July and August to be made into a hot and peppery soup believed to cool and revitalize the blood during the hottest days of summer.”

The first day of Bok Nal starts on July 17th and two other days of celebration are recognized on the 27th and then the 16th of August. Most dogs are brutally killed by electrocution and others through hanging and beatings. In the face of this cruel celebration, HSI has launched a campaign to raise awareness and help rescue dogs from this horrific fate.

Most recently, they helped collaborate with a local animal lover to rescue 20 dogs from a decrepit meat farm. 10 of the dogs have been adopted out to families in Canada and 10 more recently landed in the U.S. for adoption.

In the image below, we see the before and after of one of these rescued pups. The photo on the left dog meat farm shows the dog chained, surrounded by the disintegrating bodies of chickens. The fear in the dog’s body language it clear that he is aware some horrible fate awaits him. On the right, we see the dog completely transformed, happily in the arms of one of his new caretakers.

Seeing this dog go from absolute terror to such joy  just warms our hearts! 

In a press release, HSI explained, “This was a small farm with just 20 dogs being held in miserable conditions. Typical of dog farms in South Korea, the dogs were denied clean water and proper food; the decaying chicken corpses thrown to them by the farmer were almost inedible and so Jinoak [a local animal lover] visited them secretly to offer kindness and a proper meal. When she learned the farmer was ready to sell the dogs to the meat market, she raised the funds to buy the 20 dogs and secured a written agreement with the farmer never to breed dogs again.”

Thanks to the work of these incredible people, not only are 20 dogs free from this meat farm, but no other dog will ever have to suffer as they did at this facility!

You can help HSI on their mission to end the dog meat trade in South Korea by sharing this post to raise awareness. Click here to learn more about HSI and their work.

Image source: HSI