Author: Kristin Stone

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MONTREAL–More than 200 dogs and puppies who spent their lives in barren metal cages, many suffering from painful sores, malnourishment and skin diseases, are on their way to emergency shelters around the world as Humane Society International shuts down its 13th dog meat farm to date.

The cages will be destroyed and the dogs flown to Canada, the U.K, United States and the Netherlands to find forever homes. Over 90 of the dogs will come to HSI/Canada’s temporary shelter in Montreal.

Rebecca Aldworth, executive director of HSI/Canada, said: “My heart broke as I walked onto this facility. Breeding dogs were crammed into miserable, filthy cages and the puppies were destined for brutal slaughter in the coming months. It was clear that many of the dogs were former pets, with some still wearing collars. Thanks to our amazing supporters, HSI is able to rescue all of these dogs and give them the second chance they so deserve.”

Nara Kim, HSI’s South Korea dog meat campaigner, believes HSI’s model for change is the ideal solution: “Across Asia, momentum is building to end the dog meat trade. Hong Kong, the Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand and Singapore already have bans in place,with Indonesia recently pledging a ban, and the authorities in Hanoi, Vietnam also committing to ending the cruel trade. So the time is right for South Korea also to embrace change.”

HSI has closed down dog meat farms in Namyangju, Ilsan, Hongseong, Haemi, Wonju, Goyang, Seongnam, Yesan and Gyeonggi-do, with some farmers choosing to retire and others switching to trades such as mushroom growing and parsley farming.

HSI/Canada wishes to thank the following partners for making this rescue possible: La Fondation Emmanuelle Gattuso, Kane Veterinary Supplies, Sharp Transportation and Air Canada.

Media in Toronto (GTA) are welcome to visit the temporary emergency shelter in Cambridge on October 10th and 11th, and at Air Canada Cargo – Toronto Pearson International Airport on October 11th at 8:30pm. Montreal and Quebec media can film the arrival of the dogs at HSI/Canada’s Montreal emergency shelter the evening of October 12th (Time TBC). Call or email media contact below for more information.

Download b-roll video and photos here.

Facts:

• More than 2.5 million dogs a year are reared on thousands of dog meat farms across South Korea, the only country known to farm dogs for human consumption. Across Asia, in China, Vietnam, Indonesia, India and southeast Asia an estimated 30 million dogs are killed and eaten each year, mainly stolen pets and street dogs.
• In addition to their life of suffering on the farm, the method used to kill the dogs is brutal – death by electrocution is most common, with dogs usually taking up to five minutes to die. Hanging is also practiced. Dogs are killed in full view of other dogs.
• While most people don’t regularly eat dog, it remains popular during the Bok Nal days of summer in July and August, when it is eaten as a soup called bosintang under the misconception that it improves stamina and virility.
• The dog meat industry is in legal limbo in South Korea, neither legal nor illegal. Many provisions of the Animal Protection Act are routinely breached, such as the ban on killing animals in a brutal way including hanging by the neck, and on killing them in public areas or in front of other animals of the same species.
• At each dog meat farm closure, HSI has a veterinarian test for the presence of the H3N2, or dog flu, virus at the time the dogs receive their rabies, DHPP, and corona virus vaccines. HSI also vaccinates the dogs for distemper, parvo and coronavirus. HSI then quarantines the dogs on the farm or at a temporary shelter with no dogs permitted in or out for at least 30 days prior to transport overseas.
• After receiving care, proper nutrition and rehabilitation at HSI/Canada’s emergency shelters, the rescued dogs will be transported to Shelter and Rescue Partners in Canada and in the U.S., who then give the animals the care and love they deserve. We will announce the shelters in Canada, which can be contacted directly by those interested in adoption. For more information, please visit hsicanada.ca/savedogs.

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Media contact: Michael Bernard – c: 613-371-5170, mbernard@hsi.org

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SEOUL–A 71-year-old dog meat farmer in Gyeonggi-do has become the latest recruit to animal charity Humane Society International’s pioneering program to phase out the cruel dog meat industry in South Korea by working in partnership with farmers who want to get out of the increasingly controversial business. Farmer Lee, who had raised dogs for human consumption for 14 years before approaching HSI for help, is the 13th dog meat farmer to work with the charity to permanently shutter his business and transition to a more profitable and humane livelihood. Nine dogs will fly to the U.K. to find loving homes.

Farmer Lee plans to expand his medicinal herb farm instead, whilst his more than 200 dogs will be flown to Canada, the U.K, United States and the Netherlands so that our shelter and rescue partners can help us get them the love and care they deserve. Farmer Lee says: “When I first started this farm I had heard that the dog meat industry was booming and I thought it would be a safe retirement plan. But the fact is eating dog meat has been on the decline ever since, and these days so few people want to eat dog that I’m actually losing money. I’ve wanted to stop dog farming for a while but I didn’t know how to make it happen until a former dog farmer told me about HSI’s scheme to turn dog farms into new businesses. I think there will be a lot of interest from other dog farmers wanting to quit too, because it’s not just about saving the dogs but about helping us farmers too, and I appreciate that.”

HSI worked with Farmer Lee to agree the closure of his farm and the rescue of the more than 200 dogs and puppies who spent their lives in barren wire cages, many suffering from painful sores, skin diseases and depression. While the cages will be destroyed, HSI will help the golden retrievers, collies, spaniel and Maltese mixes, Korean jindos and tosas to heal physically and emotionally from their ordeal so that they can look forward to new happy lives.

Give now to help animals all over the world.

Behind every rescue are the stories of individual dogs who survived the dog meat trade against all the odds, dogs like Sandie, Dermot, Tessa, Olive, Luna, Millie, Nara, Robin and Indie who will be flying to the U.K for adoption when their quarantine is completed next month. Five-year-old golden retriever Olive is the oldest of the pack and likely an abandoned pet, and Shepherd-cross Nara was covered in painful skin sores when we found her on the farm, for which she is now receiving veterinary treatment.

HSI UK Executive Director Claire Bass says: “Many of these dogs will have bruised bodies and broken hearts, but we know from experience what wonders love and time can do. My own dog Henry was rescued from a South Korean dog meat farm, and although when he came to us in January he was emotionally shut down, it’s been humbling to see how willing he is to learn to trust and love humans, and a total privilege to help him on that journey. Our latest dog meat trade survivors will go on to be wonderful ambassadors for our campaign to end this cruel and dying industry, and we’re looking forward to welcoming them to the U.K very soon.”

The public and political dog meat debate is taking place in South Korea like never before. In the last several months a court in Bucheon fined a farmer because his reason for killing a dog – for meat – was considered insufficient justification; Seoul City announced there will be no more dog slaughterhouses at Kyungdong Market in Dongdaemun from next year; Seongnam’s Taepyeongdong dog slaughterhouse – the largest in the country – has also been earmarked for closure; and the President’s Blue House pledged to consider removing dogs and cats from the legal definition of livestock and noted the need for the government “to consider solutions for dog meat related workers”. Most recently a Supreme Court concluded that killing dogs by electrocution (the favoured method of the dog meat trade) is too cruel and breaches animal welfare law.

Nara Kim, HSI’s South Korea dog meat campaigner, believes HSI’s model for change provides that ideal solution: “Across Asia, momentum is building to end the dog meat trade. Hong Kong, the Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand and Singapore already have bans in place, with Indonesia recently pledging a ban, and the authorities in Hanoi, Vietnam also committing to ending the cruel trade. So the time is right for South Korea also to embrace change. We stand ready to be a part of that change, and would welcome government officials to come and see our farm closure scheme for themselves. Phasing out the brutal trade by working with farmers is the way forward, we just need the government to adopt this scheme and take it nationwide.”

HSI has closed down dog meat farms across Namyangju, Ilsan, Hongseong, Haemi, Wonju, Goyang, Seongnam, Yesan and Gyeonggi-do, with very elderly farmers choosing to retire and others switching to trades such as water delivery, mushroom growing and parsley farming.

Download b-roll video and photos here.

Facts:

• More than 2.5 million dogs a year are reared on thousands of dog meat farms across South Korea, the only country known to farm dogs for human consumption. Across Asia, in China, Vietnam, Indonesia, India, Cambodia etc. an estimated 30 million dogs are killed and eaten each year, mainly stolen pets and street dogs.
• In addition to their life of suffering on the farm, the method used to kill the dogs is brutal – death by electrocution is most common, with dogs usually taking up to five minutes to die, (and there have been recorded instances of dogs taking up to 20 minutes to die). Hanging is also practiced. Dogs are killed in full view of other dogs.
• While most people don’t regularly eat dog, it remains popular during the Bok days of summer in July and August, when it is eaten as a soup called bosintang in the unsubstantiated belief that it improves stamina and virility.
• The dog meat industry is in legal limbo in South Korea, neither legal nor illegal. Many provisions of the Animal Protection Act are routinely breached, such as the ban on killing animals in a brutal way including hanging by the neck, and on killing them in public areas or in front of other animals of the same species.
• At each dog meat farm closure, HSI has a veterinarian test for the presence of the H3N2, or dog flu, virus at the time the dogs receive their rabies, DHPP, and corona virus vaccines. HSI also vaccinates the dogs for distemper, parvo and coronavirus. HSI then quarantines the dogs on the farm or at a temporary shelter with no dogs permitted in or out for at least 30 days prior to transport overseas.
• The nine dogs coming to the U.K will arrive in mid-November and be sheltered at All Dogs Matter. To register interest in adopting one of the South Korean rescues, you can apply online at https://alldogsmatter.co.uk/event/korean-dogs/.

ENDS

Media contacts:

• United Kingdom: Wendy Higgins, whiggins@hsi.org, +44 (0)7989 972 423
• South Korea: Nara Kim, nkim@hsi.org

• 

  Manchul Kim/AP Images for HSI

WASHINGTON–Music mogul Simon Cowell is supporting animal charity Humane Society International’s bid to close down a dog meat farm in South Korea and rescue the more than 200 dogs and puppies caged inside who would otherwise be killed and eaten. The dogs spend their entire lives in small, barren metal cages but HSI, which has so far permanently closed down twelve dog meat farms and saved nearly 1,400 dogs, is desperate to close it with Simon’s help.

Eating dog meat is fast declining in popularity in South Korea particularly among younger consumers. However, thousands of dog factory farms still exist, breeding around 2.5 million dogs a year for human consumption. Humane Society International works with dog meat farmers who want to leave the dying industry, and helps them switch to more humane alternative livelihoods such as mushroom or chili growing. The charity hopes its successful model will encourage the Korean government to adopt the phase-out plan and expand it nationwide to end the industry for good.

Donate now to help these dogs and other animals.

This isn’t the first time Simon Cowell has supported HSI’s #EndDogMeat campaign. Last year he gave an exclusive interview to Good Morning Britain on the eve of HSI’s rescue team setting off for Seoul on another rescue mission. He was incredibly moved by the plight of dogs suffering on the farms, and pledged to help directly to bring more dogs to safety.

Simon told GMB’s Pip Tomson: “It’s like eating your friend. It’s the fact you’re eating such a kind, helpless, sweet animal.”

And Simon’s sentiments are increasingly echoed by campaigners in South Korea who are vociferously opposing killing dogs for meat. In July a petition on the government’s website calling for an end to the trade was signed by more than 200,000 people and prompted an official response from the President’s office. The government pledged to consider removing dogs from the legal definition of livestock, a move that could make a significant dent in the brutal industry.

Humane Society International hopes to deploy a rescue team as early as next week to start closing the farm. Most of the dogs will fly to Canada to be cared for at HSI’s shelter there, but the charity also hopes to be able to bring a small number to the UK, the Netherlands and the United States to look for forever homes.

“On behalf of Humane Society International, I want to thank Simon for his continued support for our campaign to end the dog meat trade,” said Kitty Block, president of Humane Society International and acting president and CEO of the Humane Society of the United States. “His generosity will help us enormously in our rescue mission to save these 200 or more dogs from a life of misery and find them loving homes. The closure of this dog meat farm will bring us one step closer shutting down this cruel industry for good.”

Donations to HSI’s rescue appeal can be made at www.hsi.org/simon.

Facts:

• More than 2.5 million dogs a year are reared on thousands of dog meat farms across South Korea, the only country known to farm dogs for human consumption. Across Asia, in China, Vietnam, Indonesia, India, Cambodia etc. an estimated 30 million dogs are killed and eaten each year, mainly stolen pets and street dogs.
• In addition to their life of suffering on the farm, the method used to kill the dogs is brutal – death by electrocution is most common, with dogs usually taking up to five minutes to die, (and there have been recorded instances of dogs taking up to 20 minutes to die). Hanging is also practiced. Dogs are killed in full view of other dogs.
• While most people don’t regularly eat dog, it remains popular during the Bok days of summer in July and August, when it is eaten as a soup called bosintang in the unsubstantiated belief that it improves stamina and virility.
• The dog meat industry is in legal limbo in South Korea, neither legal nor illegal. Many provisions of the Animal Protection Act are routinely breached, such as the ban on killing animals in a brutal way including hanging by the neck, and on killing them in public areas or in front of other animals of the same species.

ENDS

Media contacts:

• United Kingdom: Wendy Higgins, whiggins@hsi.org, +44 (0)7989 972 423
• South Korea: Nara Kim, nkim@hsi.org

The Humane Society of the United States and Humane Society International are deeply disturbed by the videos of Zena, a six-year-old tiger, who was performing in a circus act in Magnitogorsk, Russia. The video, which can be found online, shows disturbing footage of Zena being forced to jump through fiery hoops, before collapsing and appearing to seize in front of the crowd and six other tigers.

Kitty Block, acting president and CEO of the Humane Society of the United States and president of Humane Society International, has stated the below regarding the harrowing incident:

“What happened to Zena the tiger in Russia was horrific but sadly, not uncommon. All wild animals used in entertainment suffer and in this case the suffering is blatantly exposed to the public eye. These are living and breathing animals, not props, and the use of wild animals in circuses and other traveling shows is cruel to the animals and can also easily become a public safety issue. This issue, like most, transcends borders and although the United States and numerous other countries have made progress on this.  Just this week, Hawaii took steps to ban the use of dangerous wild animals in traveling circuses – and numerous other municipalities, states and nations have made progress on this issue. News reports are saying Zena will be performing again this weekend despite what she went through. That is unacceptable. Until laws are changed, the most effective way for caring people to express opposition to this exploitation is by refusing to patronize circuses and other shows that feature wild animals.”

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Media contact: Emily Ehrhorn: 202-779-1814; eehrhorn@humanesociety.org

MONTREAL—As federal consultations on the use of strychnine come to a close – and following the recent highly publicized tragic deaths of two family dogs, Rue and Ruby from strychnine poisoning – animal protection and conservation groups have aligned with scientists to call on Health Canada to ban the use of this cruel and inhumane wildlife poison.

Fifty leading experts signed on to an open letter submitted today, which includes a detailed addendum of why wildlife poisons should be banned. This letter supports Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency’s proposal to cancel the use of strychnine for ground squirrel control without delay. It further urges Health Minister Ginette Petitpas Taylor and Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency to immediately remove three highly toxic wildlife poisons from the Canadian landscape; strychnine, Compound 1080, and sodium cyanide.

These poisons are deadly to all warm-blooded animals but are registered for use in Canada primarily to kill wolves, coyotes, bears, rodents and skunks. According to experts across the globe, these poisons should be banned across Canada because they endanger human health, safety and the environment and pose threats that are both serious and irreversible.

Help us protect animals all over the world.

Strychnine is a deadly neurotoxin best known for the painful deaths it causes. When inhaled, swallowed, or absorbed by the nose and mouth it causes extremely agonizing muscular convulsions, ending in asphyxiation while still conscious. All three poisons, referred to as predacides when targeting predators, cause violent convulsions prior to death. Pesticides represent over 30 percent of the accidental poisonings identified in livestock, companion animals, and wildlife in western Canada since 1998.

The poisons are placed in baits which can attract pets and other wildlife, resulting in non-target victims. Animals that consume the baits can take several hours to die, and carcasses containing Compound 1080 and strychnine are toxic to scavengers, causing widespread secondary poisoning through the food chain. Poorly regulated, the use of these indiscriminate poisons also results in the deaths of pets, endangered species, and other non-target animals.

Sadie Parr, executive director of the conservation group Wolf Awareness declared: “Scientists and veterinarians have expressed that banning these poisons is long overdue. All evidence shows it is the right thing to do.”

Julie MacInnes, wildlife campaign manager for HSI/Canada, stated: “Dogs like Rue and Ruby should never have died so tragically, nor should any animal. Despite being condemned internationally and banned in many countries, strychnine is inexcusably still being used in Canada to kill wild animals.”

Sheryl Fink, director of wildlife campaigns for IFAW Canada, said: “These cruel poisons need to be removed from the landscape immediately. Not only do they cause agonizing deaths for animals they target, they kill many more animals all up and down the food chain, decimating the ecosystem.”

“We urge the Minister of Health to ban the use of products containing strychnine to kill Richardson’s Ground Squirrels. This poison causes an inhumane death for the squirrels who play an important role in the prairie ecosystem. It also kills many non-target species as evidenced by information gathered through multiple Freedom of Information Requests to the Governments of Alberta and Saskatchewan. It is bad for wildlife and bad for the environment and should be banned,” said Liz White, Director, Animal Alliance of Canada.

For interview requests, please call or email media contact below.

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Media contacts:

• Christopher Paré, HSI/Canada – office: 514-395-2914 x 206/cell: 438-402-0643, cpare@hsi.org

• Sadie Parr, Executive Director, Wolf Awareness Inc.: 250-272-4695, sadieparrwolfpact@gmail.com

• Liz White, Executive Director, Animal Alliance: 416-462-9541 ext 23, liz@animalalliance.ca

LONDON–Music mogul Simon Cowell is supporting animal charity Humane Society International’s bid to close down a dog meat farm in South Korea and rescue the more than 200 dogs and puppies caged inside who would otherwise be killed and eaten. The dogs spend their entire lives in small, barren metal cages but HSI, which has so far permanently closed down twelve dog meat farms and saved nearly 1,400 dogs, are desperate to close it with Simon’s help.

Eating dog meat is fast declining in popularity in South Korea particularly among younger consumers. However, thousands of dog factory farms still exist, breeding around 2.5 million dogs a year for human consumption. Humane Society International works with dog meat farmers who want to leave the dying industry, and helps them switch to more humane alternative livelihoods such as mushroom or chili growing. The charity hopes its successful model will encourage the Korean government to adopt the phase-out plan and expand it nationwide to end the industry for good.

Donate now to help these dogs and other animals.

This isn’t the first time Simon Cowell has supported HSI’s #EndDogMeat campaign. Last year he gave an exclusive interview to Good Morning Britain on the eve of HSI’s rescue team setting off for Seoul on another rescue mission. He was incredibly moved by the plight of dogs suffering on the farms, and pledged to help directly to bring more dogs to safety.

Simon told GMB’s Pip Tomson: “It’s like eating your friend. It’s the fact you’re eating such a kind, helpless, sweet animal.”

And Simon’s sentiments are increasingly echoed by campaigners in South Korea who are vociferously opposing killing dogs for meat. In July a petition on the government’s website calling for an end to the trade was signed by more than 200,000 people and prompted an official response from the President’s office. The government pledged to consider removing dogs from the legal definition of livestock, a move that could make a significant dent in the brutal industry.

Humane Society International hopes to deploy a rescue team as early as next week to start closing the farm. Most of the dogs will fly to Canada to be cared for at HSI’s shelter there, but the charity also hopes to be able to bring a small number to the UK to look for forever homes.

HSI UK Executive Director Claire Bass says: “Simon’s generous donation means the world to us, and provides a huge boost to our appeal to close this horrendous dog meat farm. More than 200 dogs are languishing in the most appalling conditions, but we have a real chance to save them. With every dog farm we close and every farmer we help switch to a more profitable, humane business, we’re showing the South Korean government that it’s possible to end this cruel trade. These poor dogs have had the worst lives so far, so we’re desperate to get them out of those dreadful cages and show them love, soft beds and loving arms for the first time in their lives.”

Donations to HSI’s rescue appeal can be made at www.hsi.org/simon.

Facts:

• More than 2.5 million dogs a year are reared on thousands of dog meat farms across South Korea, the only country known to farm dogs for human consumption. Across Asia, in China, Vietnam, Indonesia, India, Cambodia etc. an estimated 30 million dogs are killed and eaten each year, mainly stolen pets and street dogs.
• In addition to their life of suffering on the farm, the method used to kill the dogs is brutal – death by electrocution is most common, with dogs usually taking up to five minutes to die, (and there have been recorded instances of dogs taking up to 20 minutes to die). Hanging is also practiced. Dogs are killed in full view of other dogs.
• While most people don’t regularly eat dog, it remains popular during the Bok days of summer in July and August, when it is eaten as a soup called bosintang in the unsubstantiated belief that it improves stamina and virility.
• The dog meat industry is in legal limbo in South Korea, neither legal nor illegal. Many provisions of the Animal Protection Act are routinely breached, such as the ban on killing animals in a brutal way including hanging by the neck, and on killing them in public areas or in front of other animals of the same species.
• Dogs coming to the U.K. will not be available for adoption until November, via one of HSI’s shelter partners. To register your interest in adopting, email info@hsiuk.org

ENDS

Media contacts:

• United Kingdom: Wendy Higgins, whiggins@hsi.org, +44 (0)7989 972 423
• South Korea: Nara Kim, nkim@hsi.org

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MANILA, Philippines—Leading up to World Rabies Day on Sept. 28, Humane Society International’s Street Dog Defender veterinarians and Filipino actress Sharmaine Arnaiz went door to door in the Payatas for a mass dog vaccination drive to help the Philippines tackle deadly rabies. The virus kills up to 300 people every year in the Philippines and between 50-70,000 people globally, with most cases linked to dog bites.

While in the past the authorities have conducted mass dog culls, which only temporarily reduce dog numbers but don’t offer a humane or sustainable solution, HSI is now using its unique smartphone app technology to tackle the issue more strategically and scientifically. Using the app developed by the charity, HSI vets can geo-track every dog they vaccinate so that they can be sure to achieve the 70 per cent vaccination target needed for overall dog population immunity.

The Philippines is among the top ten countries in the world for rabies, but HSI believes the high-tech accuracy of its app could be a game-changer for tackling rabies humanely worldwide.

HSI’s Rahul Sehgal, senior director of Companion Animals & Engagement, says: “To achieve rabies immunity in a large dog population, you don’t need to vaccinate every dog but you do need to safely achieve 70 per cent. Without knowing what proportion of the dogs have been given their shots, it’s impossible to know when you’ve hit that magic number. So with HSI’s smartphone app we can map the entire city and see where every vaccinated dog is. It’s quick, easy and strategic, so it could be a game-changer in tackling rabies globally. We’re using it here in the Philippines, but also across India, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Sri Lanka, and it’s working really well.”

There are an estimated 10 million dogs in the Philippines, many of them living as family pets but most are not vaccinated or sterilised, meaning a constant cycle of new and vulnerable puppies being born. HSI hopes that its compassionate and community-centred approach will encourage pet owners to join in as part of a new wave of canine crusaders to help the Philippines tackle rabies.

Filipino actress Sharmaine Arnaiz is a passionate dog and cat lover, and joined HSI’s team to see first-hand a modern approach to tackling rabies. Ms Arnaiz says: “The best solution for dogs, cats and people is to protect animals from contracting rabies in the first place, and to improve the human-animal relationship. I’m so impressed by Humane Society International’s approach because it combines science with education, and I can see that people here understand they need to be part of the solution too by keeping their pets vaccinated.”

HSI has been working in the Philippines since 2009, providing spay-and-neuter programs, rabies vaccinations, dog population surveys, community outreach, and data collection to prove the efficacy of these programs to local and national governments.

The Philippines is just one of the many countries across Asia and Africa tackling street dog overpopulation or rabies challenges. Humane Society International’s high-impact Street Dog Defender programme aims to improve the lives of 300 million street dogs around the world through mass sterilisation and vaccination.

Download b-roll footage and high res images here.

ENDS

Media contacts:

• Philippines: Keren Nazareth, knazareth@hsi.org
• United Kingdom: Wendy Higgins, whiggins@hsi.org