To be honest, I found the whole experience a little distressing. There is a large number of cats living at the shelter, the majority of which are suffering from some kind of physical injury or sickness. Despite this, they are friendly, well adjusted and delighted to have some human interaction, even if it's only for a couple of hours. On arrival I knew it was going to be difficult, but it wasn't until I met a little tabby cat who was so sick it's eyes were literally stuck together and it couldn't see a thing. It was coughing and sneezing and clearly unwell but all it wanted was a cuddle. It broke my heart and made me cry - I wanted to take him and each and every other cat home and look after them - cue crazy cat lady, 30 years early!
KAPS (Korean Animal Protection Society) does an incredible job on the little resources they have available. They rely mostly on donations from the public - both monetary and other resources such as blankets, food and medicine. The stories of abuse and neglect are heartbreaking and enough to leave you wondering just what sort of people we share our world with.
Dog meat is considered a delicacy here in Korea, and like many Korean foods is a 'cure' for many ailments including impotence and poor skin. How it claims to do this is beyond me (how is it different to any other meat?), but in order to get these 'health benefits' the dogs are tortured prior to their deaths to increase the flow of adrenalin in their bodies. Often this is done in front of other dogs - it is well known and understood that dogs can understand the suffering of others, so this is used to the dog-trader's advantage. Dog meat is also 'tenderised' by hanging the dog from a tree and beating it to death. In short, the dog meat trade in Korea is archaic, abhorrent and a sickening crime that should be punishable in an eye-for-an-eye manner.
In a society as modern as today's Korea, there still exists some archaic practices such as this which are founded on nothing but greed and self-fulfillment. The worst part is that even though it is illegal under South Korean law, authorities turn a blind eye and instead the protection of these animals is left in the hands of independent animal welfare groups. Dog meat dealers have become hostile to those who disapprove and, since the Seoul Olympics of '88 and the increased international awareness of Korean dog farming, many markets now post plain-clothed security guards to keep foreigners away.
Korea is like that friend you know that you can only spend so much time with. Too much and it starts to get on your nerves. When you're feeling positive within yourself, things that would normally drive you crazy are simply passed off as endearing idiosyncrasies. When you're down, even the simplest of frustrations can push you towards that fine line between love and hate and make you want to spend as little time with that friend as possible without cutting them off completely.
At times, Korea is wonderful. Colorful, dynamic and inhabited by some wonderful people that really make you glad to be here. Sometimes though, Korea gets you down. Whether it's something as small as the constant staring and unwanted attention on the street, or the larger things such as animal welfare that really open your eyes and lead you to doubt whether Korea is the modern, progressive country it portrays itself as. Me? I know it happens in all countries, but the degree to which animal cruelty takes place in this country leaves me staggered. Furthermore, Korea gets away with attributing this outright cruelty to 'traditional practices' - "it's what we've always done". It's disgusting, cruel, inhumane and out of step with the rest of the OECD. Get your act together Korea.
"The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated" - Mahatma Gandhi
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