Winter Olympics Highlights Dog Meat Trade

Guest article by Greg Mount

The 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics is shining a spotlight on the Korean dog meat trade. Canadian Olympic figure skater Meagan Duhamel is leading the charge to raise awareness about the abuse of dogs in Korea. The international media are taking notice and the world is watching.

The Associated Press’ Jake Seiner recently published an article showcasing Duhamel’s tireless efforts to help the dogs of Korea.

There’s a log of dogs looking to come over to North America… if they’re left in Korea, they’ll just be sold back to the dog meat trade.

~ Meagan Duhamel

Meagan has been a dedicated supporter of Free Korean Dogs for years. She adopted Moo-tae, one of our rescues, and serves as a flight volunteer to bring as many Korean dogs as possible to their forever homes in Canada. She is also an outspoken advocate for the silent victims of the Korean dog meat trade.

As an international sports celebrity, Meagan is in an ideal position to raise awareness about the plight of dogs in Korea during the Winter Olympics. We are so grateful for her steadfast support and determined advocacy.

The 2018 Winter Olympics provides an excellent opportunity to raise awareness about the Korean dog meat trade. Despite government efforts to hide the dog meat trade from international attention, restaurants near Olympic facilities still insist on serving dog meat during the Games.

I have been selling dog meat for decades. It is really difficult for me to change my menu just because of the Olympics.

~ Park Young-ae

Winter Olympics Raises Awareness

This is not the first time the South Korean government has attempted to escape international ridicule due to the dog meat trade. Dog meat was banned during the 1988 Summer Olympic Games in Seoul to “avoid offending the sensibilities and palates of visitors.” While dog meat consumption in Korea has been on the decline, it is still considered by many, mostly older Koreans, as a cultural birthright deeply ingrained in tradition.

The 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics provides a rare opportunity to focus international media attention on the Korean dog meat trade. Once the games are over, the media will shift focus to the royal wedding and Trump’s latest foolishness.

Now is the time to raise awareness, rally support, and finally put an end to the dog meat trade during the Winter Olympics. Here’s how you can help:

1. Apply to adopt a dog if you live near Toronto or Vancouver.
2. Apply to become a flight volunteer if you’re flying from Incheon to Toronto or Vancouver.
3. Donate to support our mission to rescue as many dogs as possible.
4. Subscribe to receive the latest news and adoption profiles.
5. Share this article with your friends and family to help raise awareness.

Together we will end the Korean dog meat trade.