This story comes as a pleasant surprise to all of the animal activists out there who have been working tirelessly to eradicate these locations. Park Won-soon, the mayor of Seoul, has made an announcement that will brighten the days of many. He has already forced the shutdown of several dog slaughterhouses in the city already. This is welcome news to those who have been pushing for such regulations over the course of the past few years.
He also vows to continue these shutdowns until there are none left. There were once a wide range of dog butcher shops in the city but this mayor is no longer allowing such practices to take place. There are still a few dog slaughterhouses in existence. This mayor is not going to allow them to remain in business. If he has his way, the practice will be eradicated entirely.
The movie Underdog, which focused on the plight of stray dogs in the area, was said to play a major role in the mayor’s decision making process. Park won-soon is encouraging local residents to stop abandoning dogs. We just hope that this message is not falling on deaf ears. He is looking to save the lives of thousands of dogs who are abandoned without homes each year.
These animals never receive the chance that they deserve. Thousands of dogs are abandoned in this city each year. Won-soon also believes that animal rights and human rights are more closely intertwined than most are willing to admit. Human rights may be more secure than animal rights have ever been but that does not mean that we should be resting on our laurels.
Korean Animal Rights Advocates statistics show that at least one million animals are likely consumed each year by local residents. Thanks to this mayor’s efforts, these numbers are about to be significantly reduced. Younger generations do not believe in the consumption of dog meat in the same way that their older predecessors do.
This is creating an environment where a decline can take place, without the same level of scrutiny. Only 40 percent of the national population believes that the consumption of dog meat should be outlawed, though. It is clear to see that this battle is going to continue to rage on in the years to come. Hopefully, this mayor is able to push the proper ordinances through and put a stop to this barbaric practice.
