British television personality and music producer Simon Cowell donated £25,000 to help an animal welfare charity close a dog meat farm in South Korea. The donation which happened in the year 2018, supported a rescue operation by Humane Society International (HSI), which was working to save more than 200 dogs and puppies kept at the farm for the meat trade.According to HSI, the animals had spent their lives inside small metal cages, with little space to move and limited human contact. Some were suffering from untreated injuries and skin conditions. The charity planned to remove them from the farm and transfer them to shelters in other countries, where they could receive care and eventually be considered for adoption.The rescue was part of HSI’s wider campaign to end dog meat farming in South Korea. By September 2018, the organisation had already closed 12 farms and rescued nearly 1,400 dogs. Cowell’s contribution helped support its next operation, which became the charity’s 13th farm closure in the country.The dogs were then transportation to the United States, United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Canada. Among the animals were around 90 puppies born in the preceding weeks.
Simon Cowell on dog meat trade
Cowell’s involvement with the rescue was not his first contribution to HSI’s campaign. In 2017, he had spoken about the treatment of dogs on meat farms during an interview with Good Morning Britain, shortly before another HSI rescue mission to South Korea. He had said, “It’s like eating your friend. It’s the fact you’re eating such a kind, helpless, sweet animal.”His £25,000 donation the following year came as the charity was preparing to close another farm. At the time, HSI said the money would provide an important boost to its rescue appeal.Claire Bass, then executive director of HSI UK, welcomed the contribution and explained why the organisation was trying to help farmers leave the dog meat business.“Simon’s generous donation means the world to us, and provides a huge boost to our appeal to close this horrendous dog meat farm,” she said.
Inside the South Korean farm
The farm had been operating for 14 years before its owner approached HSI for help in leaving the industry. With the charity’s assistance, the farmer planned to switch to growing medicinal herbs.According to Kitty Block, president of Humane Society International (HSI) in 2018, the animals were kept in bare cages with iron bars forming the floors. These bars caused discomfort to their paws, particularly during South Korea’s cold winters.The rescue team found several breeds, including golden retrievers, Labrador retrievers, Tibetan mastiffs, Korean jindos and a Great Dane mix. Some dogs had untreated medical problems, while others were severely underweight.
A dog in the Korean shelter waiting to be rescued (Photo: Humane world)
One Belgian Malinois, named Jean Claude by the rescuers, was particularly weak when the team first encountered him. Adam Parascandola, HSI’s senior director of animal protection, opened his cage, and the dog came out and rested his head on Parascandola’s lap.“It was heartbreaking to see that of all that was missing in his life- food, exercise, enrichment. What he wanted most is just the touch of a person,” Parascandola said.Another dog, a shar-pei named Quentin, was almost blind because of an untreated eye infection.
Dogs prepared for shelter care
Following the farm’s closure, HSI began arrangements to move the dogs overseas. The rescue operation included nearly 200 dogs and puppies, with destinations across North America and Europe.The charity had initially expected most animals to travel to Canada, while a smaller number would be taken to the UK. Its subsequent update also identified the United States and the Netherlands as destinations. The animals were to be placed in shelters before being considered for adoption.As the rescue team began caring for the animals, staff provided dry dog food and treats. Block reported that the dogs were becoming more responsive to their carers, greeting them with barking, wagging tails and physical affection.
South Korea’s dog meat industry faces opposition
At the time of the rescue, HSI estimated that approximately 2.5 million dogs were being raised annually for meat on thousands of farms across South Korea.However, the charity reported that dog meat consumption was declining, particularly among younger South Koreans. Public opposition was also increasing.In July 2018, a petition calling for an end to the trade attracted more than 200,000 signatures on the South Korean government’s website, prompting an official response from the president’s office.The government indicated that it would consider removing dogs from the legal definition of livestock. Meanwhile, legal decisions and planned slaughterhouse closures were adding pressure on the industry.
