Ban Dog and Cat Meat
Dear editor,
I'm writing this letter to ask Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon not to legalize the dog meat industry in South Korea.
I demand that Oh seek legislation that completely bans the slaughter of dogs and cats for food or medicine and prohibit the consumption of dog and cat meat.
As a North American, I want to say that the current practice of eating dog and cat meat sheds a very dark shadow on Korean people throughout the world.
North Americans recognize that eating dog and cat meat has a lot to do with false medicinal claims and this gives the impression that Korean people are barbaric and backward.
The Internet offers a lot of information for anyone who wants to be informed about this animal abuse. The World is watching.
If Korea would put an end to the dog meat trade, and become a leader in Asia in terms of animal protection and care, then Koreans would gain the respect and admiration from the International community instead of the scorn that is directed toward them when this abuse is brought to light.
Korean children deserve to learn the value that the love of animals can bring. If children are permitted to be cruel to animals, they easily learn to get the same pleasure from the misery of fellow-humans. Such tendencies can easily lead to crime.
If Korea puts an end to the dog meat trade and then young Koreans are more likely to show their support for the government, future generations would benefit from this modern and progressive way of thinking. Koreans could hold their head high and gain the renewed respect of animal lovers around the World.
If Korea continues to butcher dogs and cats for human consumption, then there could be boycotts of Korean products and the government of Korea would be an embarrassment because it was not prepared to meet the challenges required to put an end to this disgrace.
I implore Mayor Oh to end this misery for South Korea's sake and the lives of these companion animals. No animal deserves to live and die like this.
Lois Isfjord
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada