Dear Management of ICCA (International Congress and Convention Association),

I respectfully ask ICCA to terminate the membership of your South Korean members immediately.  ICCA and the world should no longer ignore the unbelievable cruelty committed against companion animals in South Korea. It is high time to send a strong message, that this heinous treatment of any living creature has no place in a modern industrialized nation such as South Korea.  Albert Einstein said, “The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing.”  By taking a stand against the economy of a nation that brutalizes animals known for their love, affection, loyalty and altruism to our fellow human beings, you will be doing your part to bring this horror to an end.  It is unconscionable to allow this to continue.

In South Korea, an estimated 2 million dogs are slaughtered and eaten each year. These proven intelligent and sentient beings are forced to endure suffering deprivation and torture from birth to death.

Dogs live in tiny raised up cages all their lives. They don’t know what it feels like to walk on ground.  Separated from their mothers at an early age some are slaughtered as pups.  They can not mingle with other dogs other than those in cages beside them.  They suffer summer heat and freezing winters outdoors.  They are not given water!  Forced to eat rotting human food waste such as kimchi (salty and spicy fermented cabbage with red chili peppers, garlic, green onions,..etc).  Their legs get deformed and they contract painful illnesses from lack of proper nutrition and sanitation.  They get no exercise. They have been known to have their eardrums burst to prevent them from barking.  Every natural instinct they have is thwarted by the inhumane and tortuous conditions they must live under.

Dogs are electrocuted, hanged, beaten or burned to death.  There is a perverted belief that the meat tastes better if dogs have high adrenaline levels in their meat before they die.  Therefore, some dogs are made to experience extreme fear and suffering in the lead up to their deaths.  Some dogs are hanged and then beaten while they are hanging and still alive.  Others are hanged and then a blow torch is used on them while they are still alive to remove their hair.  Others still are simply beaten and tortured to death. Generally, at the markets, dogs are electrocuted and then their necks are broken.  This is a fact backed by evidence not a myth.

Dogs are turned into dog meat, dog meat soup, dog liquor, and dog “health” elixirs.  Dubious health claims are made about dog products, included the typical claim that it assists male stamina and sexual prowess.  Such ridiculous claims are made with regard to all manner of animal products to attract equally pathetic male customers. In South Korea, over the hottest days of the year, people follow a custom of eating dog meat because it allegedly increases energy.

Animals abandoned ends up as meat.  According to an article by a Korean newspaper, "there are an estimated 15,000 to 20,000 dog farms in South Korea. If each of them has 500 animals, then this means around five million of them are alive today, the Korea Dog Farmers' Association (KDFA) estimates."

You might ask is all of this legal?  Dog meat is technically illegal in South Korea but because of shameful indifference by the South Korean government and the dog meat supporters, this gruesome and vile industry continues in this day and age.

"Dog meat consumption is NOT a real Korean traditional food but the base of animal cruelty in Korea."  (http://animalrightskorea.org/dog-meat-issue/dog-meat-is-no-traditional-korean-food-by-sue-cho.html)  Even if dog meat was their culture, people must evolve and cruel culture must be abolished. Polygamy and slavery were once Korean culture but they no longer exist in their society because they are morally wrong.  Albert Schweitzer said, "The thinking person must oppose all cruel customs no matter how deeply rooted in tradition or surrounded by a halo…. We need a boundless ethic, which includes the animals also."

We are hopeful that compassion will prevail over this unspeakable cruelty to dogs in South Korea and that you will take steps to help bring this to an end.  We urge you, do not ignore this petition.  Please read its contents and above all please search in your hearts and do the right thing.

Get more information here:

South Korea’s dog meat clash - http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_national/542514.html
Current Situation of Korea's Dog Meat Industry - http://animalrightskorea.org/dog-meat-issue/current-situation-of-koreas-dog-meat-industry.html
http://koreandogs.org/
http://animalrightskorea.org/
http://www.dogisdog.org/