A trip to Korea has a very different meaning and purpose for the Directors of Free Korean Dogs. Unlike a leisurely trip for most travelers to Korea, I have been telling everyone the Founder & Executive Director of Free Korean Dogs is doing the heavy lifting in Korea.
Without a doubt, adoption is an important part for Free Korean Dogs and that is how most adopters came to know us. BUT, behind the scene is where the heavy lifting unveils – hours of driving alone throughout South Korea to various shelters we partner with.
May 2018 marks a significant milestone as EK Park visited 8 shelters to solidify the working partnerships. Each of these shelters is staffed primarily with volunteers and home to a range of 60 to 350 dogs. These dogs escaped the horrible fate from dog meat farms, dog meat market and high kill shelters.
All these shelters have very limited resources and space; Free Korean Dogs is doing our part to re-home these lovely dogs to their forever homes in Canada. Many of the dogs EK met during the visit will be available for adoption from June onwards.
Aside from visiting shelters and selecting eligible dogs for Free Korean Dogs adopters, EK is raising public awareness about the brutality of dog & cat meat trade by joining various protests. Protesting for animal rights in Korea is yet another heavy lifting task – EK spent hours demonstrating and revealing the ugly truth of dog & cat meat trade on hot, humid summer days. Further, dog meat trade is unionized in Korea; protesting against the union reps, meat traders & farmers can be dangerous as tension rises and words are exchanged. Free Korean Dogs along with other protesters of fellow animal welfare groups will not stand down; we are the voice for the 2 million dogs that get slaughtered for meat every year.
Free Korean Dogs is in the planning phase to SHUT DOWN a Dog Meat Farm with 50 dogs. Many challenges and obstacles are still ahead but we are very optimistic as we leverage the support and partnerships Free Korean Dogs fostered over the years.
Join Free Korean Dogs’ journey to fight and end the dog and cat meat trade today.
Written by William Yang
Positively moving into the future for a better Korea for the Dogs and Cats in this inexcusable trade. Thanks to the magnitude of these wonderful Korean people in the front line the world is unanimous in support of your work to ensure that Korean representatives of the trade unions are now an accountable authority there for all to implore the end of this disturbing trade so that the world may follow high Korean Values of humanity above and over greed. Congratulations and Thank you to Free Korean Dogs people and to EK. ✌️
I believe that dogs shouldn’t suffer and die for the trade in their meat. I support an end to the dog meat trade throughout Asia, and urge the governments of all countries where the trade in dog meat exists to work diligently and quickly towards eradicating this cruel and unnecessary practice.
We cannot watch torture happen to the innocent and defenseless and do nothing!
We were never given hearts and minds to think about the cat and dog meat trade, well they are not hurting me so I will look away and let it go on!We are better than this. It is our duty to do everything we can to stop this atrocity and genocides ASAP!!!
Such important & amazing work. You inspire me. THANK YOU for everything you’ve done & continue to do!
EK, thank you for starting this movement to save the lives of dogs through the Free Korean Dogs organization. Thank you also to the many front line volunteers in Korea and Canada for all they are doing. I have always been an animal lover and when I first heard of the horrendous Cat and Dog Meat trade, I was horrified. I find it hard to even look at pictures of these atrocities; however, like I tell my husband, if I don’t look at what’s happening to these precious animals, how do I try and make a difference to save them? I hope to one day meet you in person and possibly work/ volunteer with your organization and support you in this very noble quest. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!