Ten Long Years
It’s been ten years since In Defense of Animals launched its campaign to fight against the dog and cat meat trade of South Korea-ten long years of action, rescues, demonstrations, and protests. Some days the defeats were so crushing that it seemed as though the uncaring world was actually working against us, and other days the victories were so sweet that we were utterly sure and confident that real and lasting change was right around the next corner. Ten years we’ve worked to bring the issue to light in the minds of the government and good citizens of South Korea as well as to people here at home in the United States. The progress has been slow, but it has nevertheless occurred.
Today, the people of South Korea have begun discouraging the consumption of dog and cat meat. What was once the largest dog meat restaurant in the entire country has closed its doors for good due to lack of demand. Days long festivals, which used to revel in the cruel practice have been shut down, forgotten, and swept beneath the rug of progress. It has always been heartbreaking to know that while activists and campaigners have been working so hard on the streets on South Korea, other Asian countries have not only carried on with the cruel practice, but have escalated the trade to much larger scales. In other smaller countries such as Cambodia, Vietnam, and Laos, the dog meat trade has evolved into one that now operates outside the law. Black-market dealers buy animals stolen from homes, and trucks stacked with hundreds of dogs crammed alive into wire cages transport their grim cargo illegally day and night across borders with impunity.
In Defense of Animals is now committed to taking on this fight, not just in South Korea, but in all of Asia; to China, Vietnam, and beyond. This leap to stand David-like against the Goliath of outdated traditions and cultural paradigms is one that we are determined to take, and one that we hope you will take with us.
Please do not delay and make as generous a contribution you are able to today and help IDA to successfully expand this campaign. Hundreds of thousands of dogs; one of humankind’s most beloved and trusted animal companions, are being stolen from their families and murdered for human consumption. You can help by donating below: