Hundreds of SK farmers hold pro-dog meat rally

ONE of the largest pro-dog meat rallies was held in Gwanghwamun Sqaure in central Seoul on Friday with more than 400 dog meat farmers calling on the government to legalise the dog meat trade and classify dogs used as pets separately from those raised for human consumption.

The farmers marched towards the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae, carrying nine live dogs in cages on three separate trucks, which had placards that read, “These are dogs for human consumption, not pets.”

Criticising animal rights group for prioritising animals over the farmers, they said it is unfair for the government to provide subsidies to animal shelters while not supporting their businesses.

Many farmers said they are seeing dramatic profit losses and feel threatened, as animal rights groups staged anti-dog meat campaigns against Boknal, which is when South Koreans eat high-nutrition dishes to prepare themselves for the sweltering summer days.

“We are here to defend the livelihood of some 1 million dog farmers,” a farmer surnamed Lee, who has been operating a dog meat business over 20 years in Dangjin, South Chungcheong province, told the Korea Herald.

“Are dogs more important than humans? The country is treating us inferior to dogs,” he lamented.

“Lawmakers like Representative Pyo Chang-won are causing chaos. He is persecuting innocent farmers,” a farmer who operates a farm with 300 dogs in South Jeolla province told the Korea Herald.

Representative Pyo, chairman of the Animal Welfare Committee at the National Assembly, recently put forth legislation to ban the consumption of dog meat. He was the first lawmaker to publicly announce his strong determination to introduce a ban on eating dog meat.

Meanwhile, members of animal rights group like Coexistence of Animal Rights on Earth countered the farmers’ rally with their own some 20 metres away, holding pickets expressing their opposition to eating dog meat.

Some burst into tears upon seeing the live dogs in cages.

“Look inside the cage. There is no water bowl or food. Aren’t they supposed to put at least dog straps for the safety of the dogs? Isn’t that against animal welfare law?” members of animal rights group complained to officials from Jongno District Police who were also at the site.

With no law against the sale and consumption of dog meat, farming, butchery and the consumption of dog meat have continued in a legal grey area.