US Olympian Gus Kenworthy may not have brought home a gold medal, but he’s bringing home something invaluable — a new member of his furry family — as he helped save 90 other animals from a South Korean dog meat farm.
The Olympics were amazing to watch, and we were thankful to see so much spotlight on the heartbreaking dog meat farm industries that are so widespread in South Korea. Athletes from around the world have mourned the treatment of dogs on these farms, and many have adopted dogs rescued from these farms.
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Like American skier Gus Kenworthy, a well-known animal advocate and adoptive dog father to dogs he adopted when he competed in the Sochi, Russia games four years ago. Kenworthy and partner Matthew Wilkas toured one of South Korea’s 17,000 dog meat farms, posting hateful words and photos to his Instagram account.
Finally, I found them! Today is a happy day 🙂 #puppies #sochistrays #howdoibringthemhome
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Kenworthy told his followers that there were 2.5 million dogs raised for food, and that while he respected Korean culture, he was deeply disturbed by the inhumane conditions in which the dogs were kept. He called it inhumane and said conventions should not be allowed to be excuses for cruelty.
This morning, Matt and I were on a grueling visit to one of the 17,000 dog farms in South Korea. Across the country there are 2.5 million dogs being raised for food in some of the most disturbing conditions imaginable. Yes, there is an argument that eating dogs is part of Korean culture. While I don’t personally agree with him, I do agree that it is not in my place to impose Western ideals on people here. However, the way these animals are treated is completely inhumane, and culture should never be a scapegoat for cruelty. I was told that the dogs on this particular farm were kept in “good conditions” compared to other farms. The dogs here are malnourished and physically abused, crammed into small wire-floored pens, and exposed to freezing winters and scorching summer conditions. When the time comes to put one down it is done in front of the other dogs by electrocution sometimes taking up to 20 excruciating minutes. Despite the beliefs of some, these dogs are no different from the ones we call pets back home. Some of them were even pets at one time and were either stolen or found and sold in the dog meat trade. Fortunately, this particular farm is being discontinued (thanks to the hard work of the World Humane Society, and the cooperation of a farmer who sees the error of his ways), and all 90 of the dogs here will be brought to the United States and Canada. Where they will find their fur homes. I adopted the sweet baby in the first photo (we named her Beemo) and she’s coming to the US to live with me once we’re vaccinated in two weeks. I can’t wait to give her the best life possible! There are still millions of dogs out here that need help though (like the Great Pyrenees in the second picture who really was the sweetest dog ever). I hope to use this visit as an opportunity to bring awareness to the inhumanity of the dog meat trade and the plight of dogs everywhere, including back home to the United States where millions of dogs need loving homes! Go to @hsiglobal’s page to see how you can help. #dogsarefriendsnotfood #adoptdontshop ❤️🐶
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Kenworthy said that although he was told the animals at the farm he was visiting were being held in “good conditions,” he found that was not the case. Instead, the farm is now closed and the 90 dogs are to be flown to the US and Canada. to adopt it. The Humane Society International is assisting in these efforts.
Related: Winter Olympics raises awareness against Korean dog meat industry
Kenworthy hopes his visit and sharing of the conditions will continue to raise awareness about the plight of dogs there and everywhere, showing that inhumane treatment is happening everywhere and that dogs need loving homes all over the world.
And proving it’s neither talking nor walking, Kenworthy shared a photo of Bemo, their newest baby, and rescued pup from a farm. Kenworthy will bring her home as soon as the babies are currently vaccinated, and she encourages people to consider making a difference in the lives of dogs everywhere.
