South Korean dog meat industry under scrutiny as animal advocates call for boycott of Asian Games
by Tina Page • October 3, 2012
Amid a long list of various petitions and campaigns circulating addressing the consumption of dogs, and cats to a much lesser degree in South Korea, about 500 Korean Dog Meat Association members rallied Sept. 24 to demand the government legalize the farming of dogs for meat saying there are at least 20,000 dog farms with six million dogs.
Exact statistics are hard to come by, but it is estimated that around a million dogs and a few thousand cats are killed each year in South Korea to make medicinal elixirs and for direct meat consumption.
Unfortunately for the dogs deemed “meat,” death does not come easy. Packed tightly in small cages pressed against each other, they suffer hours of transport from rural farms to the slaughter houses or the live animal markets.
Slaughter houses prefer electrocution for its speed. The markets often club the animal, sometimes leaving it injured but alive, before boiling it. Traditionally, dogs are hung up by their necks and beaten to death to release stress hormones that those who consume the meat that way believe makes it tastier and more healthful.
Koreans have a long history of eating dog meat. Historical evidence shows the practice goes back thousands of years and many modern Koreans consider it part of their cultural heritage.
Cats are neither popular as pets, nor for their meat, but are used mainly as an ingredient in something called “cat liquor,” which is believed to treat arthritis and rheumatism. It is made in the same way as “dog liquor,” by boiling the animal in a pressure cooker until it liquefies, and then
… Continue … more photo’s and story …
Related Articles
