Dogs are confined in cages on a dog meat farm in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province, July 6. Courtesy of Humane Society International

By Lee Hyo-jin

Summer is the cruelest season for farmed dogs in Korea as it is the time when dog meat soup, "bosintang," is traditionally eaten ― based on the long-held yet polarizing view that the meat of "man's best friend" is good for the "stamina" of those who consume it. The practice of eating dog meat, particularly on "Boknal," the three hottest days of summer, is still observed to this day by a small number of Koreans.

Romeo, Henry, Tori, Juliette and another 17 dogs on a dog farm in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province were due to be slaughtered last week for consumption on Boknal, which, this year fell on July 16.

The farm was shut down by the city government earlier this year, for operating without a license. Out of the 59 dogs that were found there, 38 dogs were removed and taken to a shelter by the authorities. However, the other 21 canines were left behind, with the owner instructed to rehouse the dogs elsewhere, after which, any remaining at the farm would be euthanized or sold to a slaughterhouse.

The dogs were helplessly confined in filthy cages without adequate food, water or care.

On July 13, activists of Humane Society International (HSI) and Korean K9 Rescue, two U.S.-based animal rights groups stepped in and came to the rescue of the other 21 dogs.

The rescue team gave food and water to the dogs and then gently took the dogs out of the cages and moved them into animal transport containers. By the end of the day, the dogs were safely rehoused in a temporary shelter.

Activists of the Humane Society International rescue dogs at a dog farm in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province, July 13. Courtesy of Humane Society International

The owner of the farm surnamed Hwang signed an agreement to never again farm dogs for meat. When he took over the farm six years ago, the original owner deceived him by saying that it would be a profitable business, he said.

"I make most of my money from doing handyman jobs, so that's what I'll continue to do now," said Hwang.

"It was a close call. The dogs may have met a tragic ending if we failed to rescue them that day," Lee Sang-kyung, a campaign manager at HSI, told The Korea Times over the phone, stressing that the operation was launched just three days ahead of Boknal.

Most of the rescued canines were "Tosa" dogs, one of the most commonly traded breeds in the dog meat market, he said. "But actually, what matters more than the breed is the size of the dog. The bigger, the more expensively they are sold."

The dogs will now receive veterinary care and vaccinations, after which they will be ready to fly to Canada and the U.S. where they will be placed with new families, according to HSI.

Lee Sang-kyung, a campaign manager at Humane Society International Korea gently handles a dog during a rescue operation at a dog farm in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province, July 13. Courtesy of Humane Society International

However, these 21 dogs are the lucky ones among a large number of canines facing slaughter.

"Thousands of dogs are still languishing in filthy and terrible conditions, enduring the unimaginable frustration of being confined in tiny cages their whole lives until they are brutally killed by electrocution," said Kim.

He urged the government to take immediate action in banning dog meat consumption so that no more of these animals will have to go through this suffering for something that "most people in Korea no longer wish to eat."

President urged to take action

Following President Yoon Suk-yeol's inauguration in May, hopes were raised among animal rights activists that Yoon, who has been known as an animal lover, raising four dogs and three cats, would finally put an end to the dog meat industry.

Anticipations grew even higher after first lady Kim Keon-hee publicly voiced her support for ending the practice during a media interview conducted in June.

Nevertheless, no meaningful decisions have been made yet.

A dog named Brown Bear sits inside an animal transport container after being rescued, July 13. Courtesy of Humane Society International

A government-led committee consisting of experts and representatives from both the dog meat industry and animal rights groups is engaged in discussions but has yet to reach a conclusion, according to the related ministries.

Nonetheless, Lee of HSI is cautiously optimistic.

Although the presidential office did not give a clear response to the NGO's official letter calling for action, officials at the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs reached out to hear more about the organization's Models for Change campaign, he said.

Through Models for Change, which was launched in 2015, HSI Korea has so far permanently closed down 17 dog farms. Through individual contracts with farm owners, the NGO offers financial support to dog farm owners in return for closing down their facilities and giving up the dogs for adoption, with the final goal of helping the farmers transition to a new profession entirely.

"It is very regretful that the government-led committee is not making any visible progress. But I believe that if our campaign is expanded to a government-level, it will definitely contribute to rescuing the dogs, as well as helping dog farmers transition to a more humane and profitable livelihood," said the activist.