MONTREAL – Humane Society International/Canada is shining a global spotlight on the connection between South Korea’s cruel puppy mill trade and the dog meat industry by helping to rescue 200 dogs and puppies from a horrendous dog meat farm. Approximately 160 dogs are bound for Canada where they will be temporarily sheltered in Cambridge, Ontario, with some destined for Montreal where they will be rehabilitated at HSI/Canada’s emergency shelter.
This is HSI’s 14th dog meat farm closure in South Korea. The facility doubled as a puppy mill, with the dogs being sold as pets or for slaughter depending on where the greatest profits could be found. As a result, many of the dogs are small breeds such as Chihuahuas, corgis, Yorkshire terriers, poodles, Pomeranians, shih tzus and French bulldogs.
Ewa Demianowicz, senior campaign manager for HSI/Canada, said: “These dogs have been surviving in appalling conditions, in barren, filthy cages, with inadequate food and water and almost no veterinary care or human contact. Sadly, it is likely that many never left the cramped cages they have been confined in. It is heartbreaking to imagine how much they have suffered in their lives. Our team is eager to see these wonderful dogs leave this horrible place and arrive in Canada to get the love and care that they need.
HSI works with farmers who want to leave the dog meat trade by transitioning them to more humane industries, rescuing the dogs and closing the facilities. In turn, the owners sign contracts stating they will not return to the dog meat trade. The owner of the facility is eager to leave his business as his family disapproves and it is becoming less profitable.
Dog meat consumption is declining rapidly in South Korea, particularly among younger generations, with a survey by Gallup Korea in June 2018 showing that 70 percent of South Koreans say they will not eat dog meat in future. A series of recent moves by authorities to curb the dog meat trade reflects how Korean society is increasingly ill at ease with the industry. In November 2018, in Seongnam City, HSI/Canada participated in shutting down Taepyeong, the largest dog slaughterhouse in the country. As political and public momentum to end the dog meat trade grows within South Korea, HSI hopes its program will demonstrate a phase-out model that can one day be adopted nationwide with state support.
Facts:
More than 2.5 million dogs a year are reared on thousands of dog meat farms across South Korea.
Most people in South Korea don’t regularly eat dog, but it remains popular during the Bok days of summer in July and August, when it is eaten as a soup called bosintang.
Dogs are mainly killed by electrocution, taking up to five minutes to die. Hanging is also practiced.
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.
Download b-roll video and photos of the rescue by clicking here.
Media Contact: Christopher Paré, Director of Communications – Office: 514 395-2914 x 206 / cell: 438 402-0643 / email: cpare@hsi.org
Humane Society International
Washington D.C. – The latest rescue mission by animal charity Humane Society International is shining a horrifying spotlight on the long-suspected connection between South Korea’s puppy pet trade and the dog meat industry. In a country where dog meat traders go to some lengths to persuade increasingly reluctant consumers that dogs bred for meat are somehow different from their beloved pet dogs at home, HSI’s rescue of nearly 200 Chihuahuas, corgis, huskies, jindos, Yorkshire terriers, poodles, Pomeranians, shih tzus, and French bulldogs from a squalid breeding facility in Hongseong that housed pups under heat lamps in disused tyres, will create shock waves.
Although HSI has found all sizes and breeds of dogs at its previous thirteen dog meat farm closures, this is the first time the charity has discovered a facility where puppies being born for the pet trade were being bred alongside others destined to be electrocuted and butchered for meat to supply local restaurants. Any pups unable to be sold as pets could also end up at the slaughterhouse.
Sixty-year-old Farmer Lee who ran the farm for eight years is eager to leave his dog breeding days behind him. His business is increasingly unprofitable as fewer people in South Korea wish to eat dogs, and selling pups at pet auctions has become competitive; his own family strongly opposes his profession. Mr Lee says he feels ashamed to be a dog farmer, but had no way out until he was introduced to HSI’s dog farm closure scheme by a former farmer with whom HSI had worked. Once HSI closes his farm and removes the dogs for rehoming, Mr Lee hopes to become a security guard with the help of financing provided by HSI for him to take a computer literacy training course.
Farmer Lee said: “From the very beginning, my entire family has been against my dog farming. All my daughters and my wife want me to close it, and they have never wanted to visit the farm. I feel very ashamed to be a dog meat farmer and a puppy mill farmer so I barely tell anyone what I’m doing. My business is also making no money now and it’s too hard to farm the dogs as I have back pain. Also, I’ve had a hard time with my neighbor complaining about the barking which meant I had to move my farm. I spend more money on this farm than I make from it. I think dog meat trade will die soon. I feel like it’s already ending.”
HSI works in partnership with dog farmers to rescue their dogs and transition their businesses to alternative, humane and more profitable enterprises such as crop growing or service trades. Following the closure of this farm, the cages will be demolished and no animals will suffer again on this property. A 20-year contract has been signed by the farmer that ensures he will stay out of the dog meat and any other animal related industry. HSI follows up regularly to ensure compliance among all past farmers. As political and public momentum to end the dog meat trade grows within South Korea, HSI hopes its program will demonstrate a phase-out model that can one day be adopted nationwide with state support.
Nara Kim, HSI/Korea’s dog meat campaigner says: “The lines between puppy mills and dog meat farms are routinely blurred throughout South Korea, and with our latest dog farm closure we are exposing the shocking reality of that. These dogs are suffering at the hands of two abusive industries, their ultimate fate depending on whether they will sell for more money as a pet or for meat. They all start life in this depressing, squalid place, with the lucky few ending up being a loved companion whilst their cage mates are served at a restaurant or enter a chain of auctions where they are sold on to the next farmer to produce litter after litter of puppies. Korean consumers will be shocked to see that the dog meat they buy in restaurants or from markets could come from the very same dogs they see in the pet shop window. No matter where the dogs go, the conditions at this farm are horrifying. The emaciated dogs have matted fur and untreated wounds. We found them cowering in rusty cages as they endure the bitter cold of the Korean winter. It is an immense relief to be able to rescue them and fly them to North America where we can work with partner organizations and begin their search for adoptive families. For them the nightmare is over, and we hope that by exposing their suffering we can hasten the end of the entire industry for good.”
In addition to the nearly 200 dogs, HSI/Korea is also rescuing three pigs who live on Mr Lee’s farm. Named by HSI, Mable, Martha and Maggie are mini-pigs originally bred for the pet trade, but at 50 kg in weight and growing, they were highly unlikely to find happy homes, and faced an uncertain future. As HSI’s legal contract with dog farmers obliges them to transition to strictly animal-friendly livelihoods, the pigs will shortly be starting a new life being cared for at a sanctuary being established with HSI’s partner group KARA.
Dog meat consumption is declining rapidly in South Korea, particularly among younger generations, with a survey by Gallup Korea in June 2018 showing that 70 percent of South Koreans say they will not eat dog meat in future. A series of recent moves by authorities to curb the dog meat trade reflects how Korean society is increasingly ill at ease with the industry. In November last year, HSI/Korea assisted Seongnam City Council in shutting down Taepyeong, the largest dog slaughterhouse in the country, which is to be replaced with a community park.
Facts:
More than 2.5 million dogs a year are reared on thousands of dog meat farms across South Korea.
Most people in South Korea don’t regularly eat dog, but it remains popular during the Bok days of summer in July and August, when it is eaten as a soup called bosintang.
Dogs are mainly killed by electrocution, taking up to five minutes to die. Hanging is also practiced.
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.
Download b-roll video and photos of the rescue here.
ENDS
Media contact:
United Kingdom: Wendy Higgins: whiggins@hsi.org, +44 (0)7989 972 423
Every year, millions of dogs and cats are captured and transported across Indonesia for the brutal dog and cat meat trade. Many are stolen family pets or strays snatched from city streets and rural areas. These animals are crammed into cages or sacks so tightly they can’t move, often with their mouths bound shut, barely able to breathe. Enduring excruciatingly long journeys on bikes or overcrowded trucks, they are taken to markets, slaughterhouses, and restaurants. Some die from suffocation, dehydration, or heatstroke before reaching their destination. For those who survive, their fate is even more horrific forced to witness others being killed before their own agonizing death. The terror and suffering they endure is unimaginable.
HSI is a founding member of the Dog Meat Free Indonesia (DMFI) coalition, working alongside international and national organizations to end the dog and cat meat trade in Indonesia. The coalition works to expose the cruelty, raise awareness and push for legal reforms to stop the trade, protect animal welfare and prevent associated public health risks such as the spread of rabies.
A human health risk
DMFI investigations have exposed the severe animal cruelty and the significant threat to human health. The dog meat trade involves the mass movement of dogs of unknown disease status between provinces and islands. The World Health Organization (WHO) has highlighted this trade as a major contributor to the spread of rabies in Indonesia. By moving rabies-positive dogs into densely populated areas, such as Jakarta, which has worked hard to achieve a rabies-free status, the trade undermines rabies control efforts across the country.
Unsanitary conditions at slaughterhouses and markets add another layer of concern. Traders, slaughterers, vendors and consumers are exposed to rabies and other zoonotic diseases. Evidence shows that rabies-positive dogs are being sold and slaughtered for consumption, particularly in North Sulawesi’s infamous traditional markets, where dogs and cats are sold alongside other animals such as chickens and wildlife.
In addition, when vaccinated dogs are taken from their communities for the dog meat trade, this reduces the overall number of immune dogs, lowering the population’s herd immunity. As a result, rabies can spread more easily among the remaining unvaccinated or partially vaccinated dogs in the community.
While only an estimated 4.5% of Indonesia’s population consumes dog meat, the trade puts the entire country at risk.
Who consumes dog and cat meat?
The vast majority of Indonesians (around 95%) do not eat dog meat. It is most consumed in certain areas, such as Manado and Medan, where it is considered a traditional food, particularly among Batak and Christian populations. Consumption often peaks during festive occasions like Christmas, Thanksgiving, weddings and baptisms.
Dog meat is also eaten in the mistaken belief that it offers health benefits, such as curing asthma or dengue fever, boosting the immune system, or improving male stamina. Contrary to popular belief, dog meat is not consumed because it is a cheap protein source—it is priced similarly to other meats. Cat meat is far less common, with around 1% of Indonesians consuming it. However, thousands of cats are traded every year, especially in North Sulawesi markets.
Growing opposition
Countries and regions across Asia—such as the Philippines, Taiwan, Singapore, Hong Kong, Thailand and Malaysia—have banned the dog and cat meat trade due to the cruelty and health risks involved. In Indonesia, opposition to the trade is growing, especially among younger generations, thanks to rising pet ownership and increasing concern for animal welfare.
Call for a ban
Although Indonesia lacks explicit regulations banning the dog and cat meat trade, several existing laws could be enforced to curtail it. These laws cover consumer safety, public violence, livestock transportation, animal abuse, theft and quarantine. Strict enforcement of these regulations could dramatically reduce or even eliminate the dog and cat meat trade in Indonesia.
Through the Dog Meat Free Indonesia coalition, our campaigns have already achieved 50+ bans in cities, regencies and provinces across Indonesia and we are campaigning for an outright ban on the dog and cat meat trade. Add your voice by taking action now.
Ekky Bogor/AP Images for HSI
Progress so far:
2017 – present: The province of Bali, Indonesia’s most popular tourist destination, tackles the dog meat trade; dog meat vendors have been closed down, with the authorities stating that they will take action against those who continue to trade in and sell dog meat.
September 2018: The Central Government issued a Directive to all provincial, regency and city authorities calling on them to take action to discourage dog and cat meat consumption and to implement measures to tackle the trades wherever they occur. This followed a statement by the Director of Veterinary Public Health describing the dog and cat meat trades as “torture for animals.”
June 2019: The Regency of Karanganyar (Central Java, a key dog meat-eating province), announced a ban on the dog meat trade in its jurisdiction, offering small financial compensation packages to those reliant on the dog meat trade to assist with their transition to alternative livelihoods.
December 2019: Following DMFI investigations exposing Central Java’s rampant dog meat trade, including Solo city where more than 13,700 dogs are slaughtered each month, Governor Ganjar Pranowo met with DMFI and publicly called on the Mayor of Solo city to take action to tackle the trade. The Head of Agriculture of Central Java also released a statement reminding those involved in the dog meat trade that dogs are not considered food animals under the law, and that transport of dogs for human consumption is punishable by law.
December 2019: In collaboration with DMFI, Yogyakarta (“Jogja”) city erected billboards in two prominent locations, explicitly stating that dogs are “Man’s best friend and not for consumption.”
April 2021: The Regency of Sukoharjo banned the dog meat trade.
May 2021: The city of Salatiga banned the dog meat trade.
May 2021: The first ever interception of dog meat traders in Indonesia took place in Kulon Progo Regency. The traders were transporting 78 dogs. The surviving 63 dogs are now being cared for at a local animal protection group’s shelter, and DMFI has sent vets and vaccinations, deworming treatment and other supplies to assist.
November 2021: DMFI members worked in collaboration with law enforcement agencies to successfully rescue dogs being trafficked to a slaughterhouse in Sukoharjo. Over 50 dogs were rescued and taken to DMFI’s purpose-built shelter for care and eventual adoption.
December 2021: DMFI documentary about North Sulawesi’s Live Animal Markets, featuring DMFI Ambassador, Peter Egan, wins Best Documentary Short at Cannes World Film Festival.
January 2022: Malang becomes the first city in East Java to pass local regulations prohibiting the dog meat trade city-wide, following lobbying by DMFI.
January 2022 (announced in February): Central Java’s provincial capital city, Semarang, becomes the first provincial capital and 5th region nationwide to pass regulations explicitly prohibiting the dog meat trade throughout its jurisdiction.
March 2022: Semarang Regency, Blora Regency, Brebes Regency and Purbalingga regency passed directives prohibiting dog meat in their jurisdictions.
April 2022: Magelang city, Jepara (both Central Java) and Blitar city, Mojokerto City and Mojokerto Regency (all East Java) passed directives prohibiting dog meat in their jurisdictions.
April 2022: The Animal Husbandry Department of East Java Province submitted documents calling on provincial mayors and regents to end the dog meat trade throughout their jurisdictions, and plans to request the governor to enact a province-wide ban.
May 2022: Magelang Regency and Temanggung Regency passed directives prohibiting dog meat in their jurisdictions.
June 2022: Medan becomes North Sumatra province’s first city to ban the dog meat trade. This is a huge breakthrough given that ~120 – 200 dogs are slaughtered in Medan city every day, and is considered the biggest dog trafficking hotspot in the country.
July 2022: Central Java Provincial Dept. of Animal Husbandry became the second provincial government to issue official recommendations to all regencies/ cities province-wide for them to pass Directives banning the dog meat trade, citing cruelty, the fact that dog meat is not recognized as “food” in Indonesia, and due to the rabies risk.
August 2022: Surabaya in East Java province became the 18th jurisdiction to pass a Directive prohibiting the dog meat trade, and the 3rd provincial capital to do so.
September 2022: Special Area of the city of (DKI) Jakarta – the most populous metropolitan area in Indonesia, comprising the capital as well as five satellite cities and three complete regencies, including parts of West Java and Banten provinces – issued a Directive banning dog meat trade. DMFI investigations suggest that in Jakarta, an estimated 9,520 dogs per month or around 340 dogs every day are killed for meat so this new Directive could save thousands of dogs each month.
October 2022: Kebumen Regency and Pekalongan city, both in Central Java, introduce regulations banning the dog meat trade.
July 2023: After negotiations with Humane Society International and Animal Friends Manado Indonesia, a permanent ban on the sale and slaughter or dogs and cats was secured at Tomohon Extreme Market in North Sulawesi province.
July 2023: Mayor of Magelang city (Muchamad Nur Aziz) and the head of the department of agriculture met with the DMFI coalition and committed to build on their existing directive to next introduce a “perda” (law), officially banning the trade.
July 2023: Yogyakarta city or “Jogja”, capital of the Special Region of Yogyakarta, made a formal commitment to the DMFI coalition to introduce a perda (law) to end the dog meat trade.
August 2023: Rembang Regency (Central Java) issued a Directive prohibiting the dog and cat meat trades.
September 2023: Jombang Regency (East Java) become the latest to pass a Directive banning the dog and cat meat trades.
October 2023: Sumedang Regency, Bandung Regency, Tasikmalaya City, Cirebon City and Banjar City (West Java) issued Directives to ban the dog met trade.
November 2023: West Java province, Banten province and Subang Regency, Karawang Regency and Purwakarta Regency in West Java issued a Directive to ban the dog meat trade.
December 2023: The province of the Special Region of Yogyakarta issued a provincial Directive against the dog meat trade.
February 2024: Surakarta (Solo city) issued a Directive against the dog meat trade.
July 2024: Bantul Regency (Special Region of Yogyakarta) passed a Directive against the dog meat trade.
The Dog Meat Free Indonesia coalition believes that strong actions must be extended to the whole of Indonesia in order to shut down the brutally cruel, unsanitary and unsafe dog meat trade. Speak out and donate now to help dogs and other animals in need.
Humane Society International
Jean Chung/For HSI
South Korea is the only known country in the world where dogs are intensively farmed for human consumption. Over 500,000 dogs are confined in thousands of dog meat farms across the country, exposed to the elements in small, barren, filthy cages, with minimal food and water. Many suffer from disease and malnutrition, and all endure severe daily neglect. The methods used to kill these dogs are brutal, with electrocution being the most common. They are slaughtered in full view of other dogs, making their final moments both painful and terrifying.
HSI’s goal has been to secure a ban on the dog meat industry. Our efforts to close dog meat farms have been a key part of a successful strategy to create the political and societal momentum necessary to pass a legislative ban. This culminated in the South Korea National Assembly’s decision in January 2024 to ban the industry. A crucial factor in building political support has been demonstrating that the dog meat industry can be phased out in cooperation with, rather than conflict with, farmers. Since 2015, HSI/Korea has worked with dog meat farmers who are eager to leave the industry, helping them shut down their operations and transition to humane livelihoods with the dogs voluntarily handed over to HSI for adoption.
While some of the dogs we rescue find loving homes in South Korea, many are flown to other countries for adoption due to the low adoption culture in this country, where people generally prefer to buy small pedigree dogs. There is also a misconception among some that “meat dogs” are different from “pet dogs.” We are working to change this perception through public education and sharing adoption stories that clearly show there is no difference between pet dogs and dog meat dogs with the aim of increasing shelter adoption in South Korea.
Rescues
Farm closure 1: January 2015 was HSI’s first farm closure where 23 dogs were rescued, the farm closed and HSI supported the farmer switching to blueberry farming. All 23 dogs were flown to the United States, divided among five Washington D.C. area shelters, and have been adopted into loving homes as family pets. Many of them act as ambassadors for our campaign.
Farm closure 2: took place in March 2015 in Hongseong, this time rescuing 60 dogs—a mixture of breeds including beagles, poodles, Korean Jindos and large Tosas. Once again, the farmer ended dog meat farming for good. Tae Hyung Lee had bred dogs for meat for 20 years; facing criticism from family members for his participation in this cruel trade, he was eager to work with HSI to close his farm and start a new business. All but two of the 60 dogs now live in the United States, in loving, caring environments, with two (a mother and pup poodle) happily adopted in South Korea.
Farm closure three September 2015 was our largest yet, rescuing all 123 dogs from a farm in Chungcheongnam-do. All 123 dogs—a mixture of breeds ranging from the large mastiffs most often considered as “meat dogs” in South Korea, to Jindo mixes, Spaniel mixes and Chihuahuas–were transported to shelters in California, Oregon and Washington State in the United States.
Farm closure four In December 2015, HSI rescued 27 dogs and puppies from a small “starter” dog meat farm in South Korea. The dogs were flown to the United States and divided among five area shelters for care and adoption.
Farm closure five: This was a rescue conducted in two parts, in total rescuing 267 dogs. Part one took place in February 2016, rescuing 50 dogs from a dog meat farm in Wonju; part two took place in April 2016, rescuing the remaining 217 dogs. The dogs from this farm are a mixture of breeds including Husky, Labrador, Golden Retriever, Mastiff and Jindo mixes.
Chicken Farm Dog Rescue: In July 2016, Humane Society International worked with Free Korean Dogs to assist a local activist called Jinoak in South Korea with re-homing dogs who had been rescued from a dog meat farm. Jinoak had discovered the dog meat farm containing 51 dogs, bought them from the farmer, and built a shelter to house the dogs. With assistance from Free Korean Dogs, Jinoak placed some of the dogs for adoption, and HSI stepped in to help re-home the remaining dogs. One of HSI’s Shelter and Rescue Partners in Helena, Montana, in the United States—Lewis and Clark Humane Society—agreed to take the dogs. One dog found an adopter online and was flown directly to Toronto to his new home.
Jeonju Farm Dog Rescue: In September 2016, HSI worked again with Free Korean Dogs to rescue 31 dogs from a dog meat farm after Korean authorities ordered the farm to shut down for operating illegally without a license. HSI assisted with re-homing five of the dogs.
Farm closure six: In January 2017, HSI closed a farm in Wonju and rescued all 219 dogs, flown to the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom for adoption. The farmer, a mother with a teenage daughter, was keen to leave the trade and move to the city to start a better life for herself and her child.
Farm closure seven: In March 2017, HSI closed down a farm in Goyang and rescued all 67 dogs, flown to the United States for adoption. The elderly farmer and his wife were keen to retire due to age, ill health and their increasing unease at breeding dogs for eating—in fact the farmer had stopped selling his dogs for slaughter and stopped eating dog himself.
Farm closure eight: In June 2017, 16 dogs were rescued by HSI from a small backyard breeding operation in Seongnam (total includes two puppies born to one of the mama dogs shortly after we rescued her). The owner bred the dogs to sell to a nearby dog meat market. All the dogs were transported to the United States for adoption.
Farm closure nine: In July 2017, HSI closed a dog farm in Yesan and rescued all 149 dogs from the property, including 14 newborn pups. The dogs were flown to the United States to find homes.
Gongju city farm rescue: In October 2017, HSI/Korea assisted Korean animal partners KAWA in rescuing 23 dogs, mainly Tosas, from a farm in Gongju city.
Farm closure 10: In November/December 2017, HSI closed a dog meat farm in Namyangju rescuing more than 170 dogs, who were flown to the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom to find new homes.
Farm closure 11: In March 2018, HSI closed a small dog meat farm in Gyeonggi-do province, with 105 dogs and puppies transported to Canada.
Farm closure 12: In June 2018, HSI reached an agreement with a farmer in Namyangju-si, Gyeonggi-do to remove the last 50 dogs from his dog meat farm before he shut it down to expand his more profitable water parsley business. We flew the dogs to Canada to start their new lives.
Farm closure 13: In October 2018, we worked with Farmer Lee in Gyeonggi-do, South Korea to shut down his dog meat farm after 14 years, rescuing 200 dogs and flying them to Shelter and Rescue Partners in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands. Lee plans to expand his medicinal herb farm instead.
Farm closure 14: In February 2019, HSI closed a dog farm in Hongcheon with nearly 200 dogs, including a combined puppy mill operation.
Gupo dog meat market rescue: In July 2019, HSI/Korea worked with Korean partners KAWA, KARA and Busan Korean Alliance for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and alongside local authorities to rescue 85 dogs from Gupo dog meat market in Busan upon its closure.
Farm closure 15: In September 2019, HSI closed down a dog farm in Gyeonggi-do with more than 90 dogs and puppies.
Farm closure 16: In May 2020, HSI closed down a dog farm in Hongseong-gun, rescuing more than 70 dogs and puppies.
Farm closure 17: In October 2020, HSI shut a dog meat farm in Haemi and saved 170+ dogs from the dog meat trade.
Paju rescue: In October 2020, HSI/Korea assisted local groups with the rescue of 14 Jindo dogs from a small farm which the farmer had agreed to close.
Gimpo rescue: In December 2020, HSI/Korea assisted Korean partners LIFE and regional officials in rescuing more than 100 poodles, Jindos, Yorkshire terriers, Chihuahuas, Shih Tzus, Pomeranians, Spitz, Schnauzers and more caged in deplorable conditions on a junkyard farm where they had been bred and sold for both the pet trade and the dog meat trade.
Yongin rescue: In April 2021, HSI/Korea joined with Korean animal protection groups LIFE, KoreanK9Rescue and Yongin Animal Care Association to save 50 dogs from being euthanized on a dog meat farm in Yongin city after the facility was closed down by the authorities.
Jindo Island farm closure: In August 2021, HSI/Korea assisted our Korean partners LIFE to rescue 65 Jindo dogs and puppies from a farm on Jindo Island. The farm was being investigated and shut down by local authorities for having breached the Animal Protection Act due to dogs being killed in front of each other.
Ansan rescue: In July 2022, HSI/Korea assisted Korean K9 Rescue in removing 21 dogs left behind when Ansan city authorities closed an illegal dog meat farm in Gyeonggi-do, South Korea. Officials had already removed 38 dogs to their shelter for rehoming, but left 21 behind with a deadline for removal or they would be at risk of being euthanized or sold to a slaughterhouse. The farmer had been breeding dogs for human consumption at the site for six years.
Farm closure 18: In March 2023, HSI/Korea closed down a farm in Asan-si, Chungcheong province and rescued 200 dogs and puppies on the property. The farmer, Mr. Yang, planned to retire and grow vegetables to sell locally.
Humane Society International / Global
HSI is fighting the cruel dog and cat meat trade in countries across Asia. Here’s how we’re working to achieve change.
Ending the dog and cat meat trade is a complex challenge that demands an in-depth understanding of local contexts and a multi-layered strategy. In South Korea, Viet Nam and India, HSI has team members on the ground advocating for legislative changes and increased protections for animals. In China, we collaborate with our partner Vshine and support local animal protection groups through public education campaigns, advocacy and direct rescues led by local law enforcement. In Indonesia, HSI is a founding member of the Dog Meat Free Indonesia coalition, which spearheads the campaign to end the dog and cat meat trade in that country.
Changing laws
A key goal for HSI is introducing laws that permanently ban the trade. Thanks to advocacy by HSI/Korea and other local groups, we achieved a landmark ruling in 2024 of a ban on the dog meat industry in South Korea which comes into force in 2027.
In Indonesia, as part of the DMFI coalition, HSI works with local law enforcement to stop dog traffickers, close slaughterhouses and encourage local governments to introduce bans. So far, over 50 local bans have been enacted across the country. We are now striving for national legislation to end the trade.
In China, while foreign NGOs cannot lobby the government directly, Chinese animal groups supported by HSI engage with policymakers to crack down on the trade. The hope is that the National People’s Congress will in the future pass animal welfare legislation, reflecting the growing sentiment in China against the dog and cat meat trade.
In Viet Nam, HSI/Viet Nam has partnered with the provincial governments of Dong Nai and Thai Nguyen to the end the dog and cat meat trade in these provinces through our Models for Change program and by enforcing existing laws and regulations to restrict the dog and cat meat trade.
Meanwhile, in India, HSI is focusing on addressing the dog meat trade in Northeast India, where the trade continues to be prevalent. HSI’s exposé of the cruel trade in Nagaland revealed the smuggling of over 30,000 street dogs and stolen pets annually for slaughter for the dog meat trade.
While the dog and cat meat trade still exists in several countries in Asia it is important to note that most people in Asia do not consume dog or cat meat, neither do they see this practice as part of their culture, with local opposition to the trade significantly growing.
Dog and cat meat bans are already in place in Hong Kong, Thailand, the Philippines, Taiwan, Singapore, and in some cities in mainland China, Cambodia and Indonesia. The goal of ending the dog and cat meat trade across Asia is becoming increasingly achievable and HSI is working tirelessly towards this goal.
DMFI
Rescuing dogs and cats from the meat trade
The dog and cat meat trade across Asia subjects millions of animals to suffering, and while rescue efforts are crucial, they alone cannot end this cruel industry. However, wherever possible, we partner with local organizations to save the lives of animals trapped in the trade.
In South Korea, HSI/Korea has rescued over 2,500 dogs from meat farms and markets. These animals endured horrific conditions, confined to small metal cages, deprived of adequate food, water and medical care, and exposed to harsh weather. HSI works with farmers willing to leave the industry, helping them close their dog meat farms. The dogs on the farms that we’ve closed have been flown to the United States, Canada, the U.K. and the Netherlands, where they have found adoptive homes through our shelter and rescue partners. A small number of dogs have been adopted in South Korea. Many of our rescue dogs become ambassadors, raising awareness of the cruelty they’ve faced and the need to end the dog and cat meat trade.
HSI/Jean Chung
Our Models for Change program, active in South Korea and Viet Nam, supports dog and cat meat trade workers in transitioning to humane livelihoods such as vegetable farming or, if elderly, retiring from work. By closing dog and cat meat businesses, we not only rescue animals but also break the cycle of suffering, preventing further animals from being reared and slaughtered in the future. In addition to saving lives, this approach demonstrates to governments that ending the trade is a feasible and humane solution.
HSI
Stopping the dog traffickers
In Indonesia, more than one million dogs are illegally stolen, trafficked, slaughtered and sold for human consumption every year. Without a nationwide ban, the relevant laws and regulations that can be applied have weak penalties, and enforcement is rare, which enables the traders to continue to operate. DMFI campaigners work with law enforcement agencies as well as local and regional officials to introduce local bans and help the authorities crack down on the trade. As a direct result of this strategy, we’ve worked with police to intercept trucks smuggling dogs, and we have seen the country’s first ever convictions for dog traffickers. Likewise, our partner in China Vshine works with law enforcement agencies to stop the trucks and has achieved convictions for dog traffickers while rescuing dogs and cats from the meat trade.
Yoma Times Suryadi/AP Images for HSI
Exposing the cruelty
Our work shining a spotlight on the suffering endured by dogs and cats for the meat trade is a powerful tool in changing hearts and minds. In South Korea, our strategy of inviting media to attend our dog farm rescues and witness the conditions first-hand has shone a much-needed spotlight on the cruelty involved in the industry. Showing the grim reality of the industry to the public and politicians played a key part in creating momentum for the nationwide ban passed in 2024. Likewise, in Indonesia our DMFI investigations have exposed the appalling cruelty endured by these animals, including those at markets where they are routinely bludgeoned and blow torched in front of each other. Our investigations result in national and international media headlines, which, in turn, support our campaign work on the ground and increase momentum for change.
Dog Meat Free Indonesia
Public awareness campaigning
Most people across Asia do not consume dog or cat meat, and growing awareness about the cruelty involved is fueling support to end the trade. In countries like South Korea, China and Indonesia, public interest in dog and cat meat consumption is already very low or rapidly declining, especially among younger generations who increasingly view dogs and cats as companions and not food.
KARA
Working with partner organizations such as KARA in South Korea and DMFI in Indonesia, HSI is involved in peaceful public demonstrations advocating for the protection of dogs and cats from the meat trade. These efforts are bolstered by impactful nationwide PR campaigns that raise awareness and encourage change. Community outreach is also central to our strategy, as we emphasize the unique bond between humans and dogs and cats, fostering a stronger public demand to bring an end to this cruel practice.
Dog Meat Free Indonesia
A promise to keep fighting
HSI’s promise to these animals and our advocates is that we will not rest until the dog and cat meat trade ends. Join us in our fight to stop this and other cruelty. .
