The Real Hypocrites - by Yoon Kerr

Dogs would risk their own lives to save their human pack members and are regarded by the Chinese themselves as a loyal and faithful animal .It is very expensive to keep pets in China and yet there are many Chinese who are willing to pay for the companionship. Even in China, dogs and cats are companion animals to many people. Even in China butchering dogs is a dirty job. In Korea, calling someone as a dog butcher was the worst kind of insult anyone can give. When animals who are regarded by many of its own population as affectionate and loyal are slaughtered for meat, it shows how little life in general has been valued. Those who can kill and eat animals which they themselves know to be most faithful and loyal have very little sympathy for any animal. No wonder health myth will tempt them so easy to use deliberate torture.

Those who believe killing dogs and cats for food is no different than killing other animals for food do so either because they believe humans are just so superior to all other animals that we can eat any of them (holier than thou in its extreme) or because they believe that placing them in different categories is an act of betraying other animals). To the first category, the reasons dogs and cats are treated with more affection are not that different from the reasons humans are treated with more respect and affection by its own kind. And by trying to attack the special affection people have for these animals, they are actually attacking the grounds for people caring for one another.

To the second category, the reason other animals are killed for food is not because people think these animals are less worthy than dogs and cats but because they believe humans are far and above every other animal. What these people are doing is not raising the status of animals in human esteem but lowering down the respect for the whole animal kingdom. The second group, despite its holier than thou appearance, puts the appearance of their integrity before the interests of animals.

Those who attack others for being hypocrite funnily enough never seem to look at themselves and see whether they themselves are indeed the hypocrites. Can you justify you being better than anyone else? So your human weakness, that you put yourself before others, according to your own logic, is a hypocrite's stand?

Consistency will only be morally desirable when it is used to save life but there are so many who repeat what they hear like parrots and yet think themselves occupy morally higher ground because they don't think dogs and cats more special. These holier than thous never fail to call others hypocrite.Share

Dramatic Rescue of Dogs From "Meat Farm" In South Korea!

IDA’s partners in South Korea, Coexistence for Animal Rights on Earth (CARE), recently visited a dog "meat farm” in remote Gyeonggi Province. What they found was appalling. Dogs were living in miserable conditions in soiled, ramshackle cages. Some had injuries and all were filthy and uncared for. The waste in the cages appeared to have never been cleaned and the dogs sat in piles of feces.

The conditions were so horrible, these brave activists felt they couldn’t leave without the dogs. At the risk of arrest and personal injury, they rescued the dogs and brought them to CARE’s animal shelter to be treated, cleaned and loved for the first time.

CARE has filed a civil complaint against the facility, and the owner has agreed to demolish the buildings and not obtain any more dogs. This is a huge victory for the dogs of South Korea!

With IDA’s assistance, CARE is also gearing up for lawsuits against dog meat shops in Gyeonggi Province. If convicted, the butchers could be fined up to 5 million won (around $5,000). This could be a great deterrent for selling dog meat.Share

Campaign Seeks No Free Trade Deal For Nation That Eats Dogs And Cats

Campaign Seeks No Free Trade Deal For Nation That Eats Dogs And Cats

The following is from a Kinship Circle campaign currently underway. They hope to disrupt Korea's Free Trade Agreement on the basis of the nation's terrible animal welfare record and failure to enforce legislated laws.

A sample letter is further below.

South Korea's cat/dog consumption industry won't end for ethical reasons.
But a blow to South Korean financial interests may finally make them take
notice. Urge the Obama Admin and U.S. Congress to not approve a United
States - South Korean Free Trade Agreement. Send comments now.

SENDING OPTIONS:
1) SEND AN AUTOMATED LETTER:
http://www.kinshipcircle.org/letter_library/letter_new2.asp?LetterID=1889&seriesfirst=true

2) OR -- COPY/PASTE EMAILS & SAMPLE LETTER BELOW.

=============================================================
EMAIL BLOCK & WEB CONTACT FORMS
=============================================================

1) U.S CITIZENS ONLY -- SEND COMMENTS TO --
YOUR REPRESENTATIVE AND 2 SENATORS IN U.S. CONGRESS:
To identify your federal legislators and find contact info, try:
http://www.Congress.org
http://www.senate.gov
http://www.house.gov

2) EVERYONE -- SEND COMMENTS TO --
U.S. WAYS AND MEANS TRADE SUBCOMMITTEE MEMBERS,
PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA & HOUSE SPEAKER NANCY PELOSI:

*****ABOUT EMAIL ADDRESSES BELOW*****
Most Congresspersons use constituent-only web contact forms now. However, we
searched documents from various Congressional committees, meetings, and
initiatives to find some personal emails. WE CANNOT GUARANTEE THAT ALL THE
EMAIL ADDRESSES BELOW ARE STILL VALID.

george.dalley@mail.house.gov , Emile.milne@mail.house.gov ,
janice.mays@mail.house.gov , charles.rangel@mail.house.gov ,
rangel@mail.house.gov , waysandmeans@mail.house.gov , slevin@mail.house.gov ,
vickie.walling@mail.house.gov , john.tanner@mail.house.gov ,
christopher.vanhollen@mail.house.gov, Jacqueline.Gosnell@mail.house.gov,
jim.mcdermott@mail.house.gov , james.mcdermott@mail.house.gov ,
richard.neal@mail.house.gov , lloyd.doggett@mail.house.gov ,
bob.siggins@mail.house.gov , rep.earl.pomeroy@mail.house.gov,
bob.etheridge@mail.house.gov , jose.delgado@mail.house.gov ,
linda.sanchez@mail.house.gov , rep.brady@mail.house.gov ,
geoff.davis@mail.house.gov , dave.reichert@mail.house.gov ,
rachel.cariker@mail.house.gov , Derek.harley@mail.house.gov ,
wally.herger@mail.house.gov , kendra.fowler@mail.house.gov ,
damon.nelson@mail.house.gov , devin.hunes@mail.house.gov ,
AmericanVoices@mail.house.gov , sf.nancy@mail.house.gov ,
nancy@mail.house.gov , terri.mccullough@mail.house.gov,
john.lawrence@mail.house.gov , george.kundanis@mail.house.gov ,
d.leadership@mail.house.gov

President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden: http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-CA: http://www.house.gov/pelosi/contact/contact.html

*****IF A CONGRESSPERSON BELOW IS YOUR REP, USE THEIR CONTACT FORM*****
Charles B. Rangel, D-NY, Ways and Means Chairman: http://waysandmeans.house.gov/singlepages.aspx?NewsID=10470
Sander M. Levin, D-MI, Trade Subcommittee Chairman: http://www.house.gov/levin/levin_contact.shtml
John S. Tanner, D-TN, Trade Subcommittee: http://www.house.gov/tanner/contact.htm
Chris Van Hollen, D-MD, Trade Subcommittee: http://vanhollen.house.gov/Contact/
Jim McDermott, D-WA, Trade Subcommittee: http://www.house.gov/mcdermott/contact.shtml
Richard E. Neal, D-MA, Trade Subcommittee: http://www.house.gov/neal/write_neal.html
Lloyd Doggett, D-TX, Trade Subcommittee: http://doggett.house.gov/
Earl Pomeroy, D-ND, Trade Subcommittee: http://www.house.gov/formpomeroy/zipauth.htm
Bob Etheridge, D-NC, Trade Subcommittee: http://etheridge.house.gov/Contact/
Linda T. Sanchez, D-CA, Trade Subcommittee: http://lindasanchez.house.gov/index.cfm?section=contact
Kevin Brady, R-TX, Trade Subcommittee: http://www.house.gov/brady/contact_page.html
Geoff Davis, R-KY, Trade Subcommittee: http://geoffdavis.house.gov/Contact/
Dave G. Reichert, R-WA, Trade Subcommittee: http://reichert.house.gov/Contact/ZipAuth.htm
Wally Herger, R-CA, Trade Subcommittee: https://forms.house.gov/herger/webforms/landing.html
Devin Nunes, R-CA, Trade Subcommitte: https://nunes.house.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=ContactUs.ContactForm

***KINSHIP CIRCLE CANNOT GUARANTEE ALL EMAILS WILL WORK***
During campaigns, recipients may change or disable their email addresses.
Emails from government, corporate, or institute websites may be incorrect.

***Kinship Circle believes an animal-free diet is the ultimate way to end
cruelty and the devastating impacts of animal agriculture. We feel
confinement, deprivation, drugging, brutalization, slaughter, dismemberment
and consumption are bad for dogs, cats, pigs, cows, chickens, goats and all
who live. We advocate for an end to the suffering of all.

=============================================================
SAMPLE LETTER
=============================================================

RE: Please do not approve the U.S. Korea Free Trade Agreement (FTA)

Dear President Obama and Members of the U.S. Congress:

I respectfully ask the Obama Administration to NOT ratify the U.S.-South
Korea Free Trade Agreement (FTA). Labor unions and automakers oppose the
accord as written, as do many Democrats who want South Korea to eliminate
blockades to U.S. auto exports.

Furthermore, South Korea selectively complies with its own laws and misleads
the global community. Government corruption is particularly evident in its
application of animal welfare policy. For example, South Korea is the only
nation to openly slaughter cats and dogs for human ingestion. It fails to
uphold its own Food Sanitation Law of 1984, which bans dog broths
(Boshintang) as "disgusting foods." Some two million dogs are butchered for
their meat every year.

Amendments to Korea's Animal Protection Act of 1991 stiffen penalties for
animal abuse, but ignore dog meat markets -- the chief source of cruelty. The
law calls extraction of bodily fluids from a living animal unlawful cruelty,
yet doesn't ban the "liquefaction" of cats in pressure cookers to make
elixirs presumed to heal arthritis, neuralgia, and other human conditions.

How can a country unable to enforce its own laws abide by the terms of any
Free Trade Agreement?

Gentle animals, historically bred as loyal companions to people, are
systematically tortured to "tenderize" their tissue and expel the adrenaline
believed to act as a sexual aphrodisiac when eaten. Their bones are slowly
broken with pipes and hammers. They suffer bloodletting, live dismemberment,
hangings, boiling and more brutalities.

Documentation of wet markets reveals dogs (some still with ID collars)
squashed inside fly-infested crates in the hot sun. For decades, South Korea
has flouted international censure of this trade. They have manipulated every
effort to end the agony of stolen or factory-farmed dogs and cats.

While animal protection may seem to be a marginal issue at first glance, I
ask you to consider that in America, roughly 77.5 million dogs and 93.6
million cats live as companions with people (American Pet Products
Manufacturers Association 2009-2010 National Pet Owners Survey).

U.S. voters, your constituents, oppose favored status for a nation that not
only consumes cats and dogs -- but deliberately torments them as well.
Please do not confirm the U.S.-South Korea Free Trade Agreement.

Thank you,

=============================================================
COMPLETE CONTACT INFORMATION
=============================================================

Get all names/titles, mail addresses, phone/fax and emails:
http://www.kinshipcircle.org/letter_library/letter_new2.asp?LetterID=1889&seriesfirst=trueShare

Help!! KAPS Is Losing Their Daegu Adoption Center

Hi Everyone, so we have some great volunteers dedicating their time to fundraising for KAPS.

And this couldnt come a moment to soon! Not only do we survive on donations for the day to day care of the animals, but KAPS is losing their Daegu Adoption Center :( *EEK!

Without your support and volunteer efforts, KAPS may not be able to reopen an adoption center in Daegu. So, check out the new group for the latest in fundraising ideas, events and projects!!

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=118613171513261&ref=ts#!/group.php?gid=118613171513261

Thank you for your continue support of animal rescuing. It takes all of us to save lives. Nothing is too small, from the simple word-of-the-mouth about local rescues to a simple reminder to your friends and family to spay and neuter their pets helps saves lives. THANK YOU EVERYONE!

KAPSShare

How Much Is That Puppy In The Window???

Furballs for sale

By Chaitanya

That cute dog you see in the window of the pet store has a pretty gruesome story to tell you. Most pet stores take the puppies away from their mothers when the puppy is around 3 weeks old. This is because the puppies look irresistible when the puppy is all fluffy with fur. Unfortunately these puppies not only have a lot of medical complications but also behavioural issues.

Canines are pack animals. They learn a lot from their mothers. The mother is their first pack leader. The mother teaches the puppies how to fit into a pack. She licks the puppies clean, grooms them and feeds them thus taking care of the emotional and physical needs. On the other hand she also disciplines them. If a puppy comes too close to her while she is eating, the mother growls. She eats first and only then does the puppy get to feed. The puppies have to wait for their mother to return from hunting.

All of this learning takes place between the fourth and the eighth week for the puppy. Coming back to that puppy you are staring at in the window of the pet shop, do you realise that the puppy has had no such training? The medical complications are quite obvious and most vets can treat them. Medical care could cost you a lot of money. It is the behavioural problems that will haunt you. There is a very good reason that reputable breeders sell their puppies only after the puppies reach eight weeks of age.

So please, before getting a pet (buying or adopting) think about the consequences of your decision. Be a responsible owner not just someone who loves dogs. It is quite tempting to buy one of those cute little ones in the glass enclosure, but give it a lot of thought before dipping into your pockets.Share

July 18th, 28th And August 17 : Nearly 1,000 Tons Of Dog Will Be Consumed

July 18, 20010 will be the first of the South Korea's three Dog Days called boknal. The Chinese character bok (伏) is composed of human (人) and dog (犬). Starting from First Dog Day called Chobok, the Middle Dog Day or Jungbok, and Last Dog Day or Malbok are the culmination of summer heat on the Korean Peninsula. Middle Dong Day will be July 28 this year while the last one falls on August 17. On these three days, dog meat restaurants will be crowded with Diners and nearly 1,000 tons of dog will consumed!

One owner of a boshintang(dog meat)restaurant that was interviewed said that they had three times more customers than usual days. Boshintang is sold at steep prices at least two to three times more expensive than beef. According to 1998 government statistics, there are 6,484 boshintang restaurants scattered around the nation. The number of boshintang restaurants is was nearing 10,000 in 2005.

Back in 1998 estimated 8,428 tons of dog meat were circulated per year nationwide. Now it is well over 10,000 tons. In addition, 93,600 tons of gaesoju or dog extract (elixir) were sold in 1998, as well. Surprisingly, Korean women are the biggest consumers of dog meat!
These days, over 20,000 dogs are circulated and consumed per day as the number of female customers increases. Over 43 percent of all Korean women visit dog meat restaurants.

In general, dog meat is the fourth most popular meat after pork, beef, and chicken in South Korean markets.
On average, 280 tons of dog meat is consumed per day. For various reasons the Korea government, past and present, has never tried to clarify the legitimacy of dog meat or prevent illegalities!
"The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated." -GandhiShare

Secrets of the Dog Market in Daegu, South Korea

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