April 24th 2008 11:17 am
Anger as Seoul aims to reclassify dog meat
Dog meat in the Food Market
The Seoul city government is seeking to classify man’s best friend as livestock in order to set food safety standards for South Korean lovers of dog meat, officials say.Somewhere between two and four million dogs are estimated to be consumed in South Korea every year but the slaughtering and processing is carried out in dirty environments and poses a risks to diners’ health, they said.
Since dogs are not currently classed as livestock there are no hygiene regulations on their slaughter, officials said.
“Dogs are consumed in their millions in this country every year. That’s a fact. We have to take care of this situation,” Lee Hae-Woo, head of the city government’s department of food safety, said.
“We plan to recommend to the central government that dogs are classified as livestock.
“This is like a hot potato but we don’t pretend the issue does not exist.”
South Korea’s capital has always been ambivalent about dog meat.
To avoid adverse publicity before the 1988 Olympics, the city banned dog meat and snake meat as “abhorrent food.”
The order is now largely ignored and an estimated 500 dog meat restaurants operate in Seoul alone.
The reclassification proposal sparked angry reactions from animal activists, who staged street protests and launched on-line signature campaigns.
“No other country in the world but South Korea gives a legal green light to dog meat consumption,” the Korea Association for Animal Protection said in a statement.
“South Korea’s motto is globalisation but it seeks to go back to the Stone Age as far as dog meat consumption is concerned.”
Lee Won-Bok, association president, said if the proposal became reality, dog meat consumption would increase drastically.
“It’s horrible to imagine dog meat on display next to beef and ham at supermarkets,” he said.
“It would also be nauseating to see roasted dog meat on the menu of your restaurant.”
- AFP
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8 Comments »
jane on 24 Apr 2008 at 3:46 pm #
What is most horrifying is that the reclassification is unlikely to include welfare standards for slaughter. The way these dogs (and cats) are slaughtered is utterly horrific, using methods designed to cause the maximum amount of suffering, in the ridiculous belief that this kind of suffering produces a better tasting meat.
Personally, I hope any human that eats an animal slaughtered in such a despicable manner, chokes.
Cons on 24 Apr 2008 at 3:48 pm #
I truly agree with you jane. Have u read my post regarding the dog which was used as part of a so called “art” exhibit?
The artist is really, really sick!
jane on 24 Apr 2008 at 3:53 pm #
Yes, just read it and signed the petition. I wrote an email to the idiots who put this exhibition on last year, I was just so shocked that someone could have that level of arrogance to do such a thing and claim it was “art”
PS: How is little Sola doing?
Cons on 24 Apr 2008 at 4:03 pm #
Sola is now a spoiled little brat
. His eyes are now open (although his vision has somehow been damaged, But he is not completely blind). He is very active. Has a healthy appetite. Loves to run around and play.
But at the end of the day, he still cant sleep without his cat nanny (Mikah or Mikee). He meows and meows when its sleeping time and he is alone in his cage (He is still in the isolation area. But we sometimes let him out of the cage to play inside the house).
Ill posts new pictures of Sola in my next blog
By the way, we have rescued 2 more kittens yesterday. Ill write and post their story soon.
Jane on 24 Apr 2008 at 4:07 pm #
I’m so pleased to hear Sola is doing well, also that he has some vision. I look forward to reading about the new kittens and seeing some more of young Sola.
I did try and post a comment on the dog story below but I think the server ate the comment. I also suggested that you could post the story about the dog/art atrocity on the Cat Blogosphere – http://www.blog.catblogosphere.com/ I’m sure the petition would get some more signatures!
Jazmin on 05 May 2008 at 4:32 pm #
Cons…your turn…the 6 word-meme…
http://www.jazminpersonified.com/2008/05/my-six-word-memoir.html
Jazz
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