Humane Society International (HSI) are a leading force for animal protection. Alongside their admirable disaster relief responses, they work around the globe to promote the human-animal bond and confront animal cruelty in all its forms including ending confined meat farming, animal testing, trophy hunting and fur farming.  

In 2021 we learnt of HSI's efforts in South Korea, where they are working toward initiating a government ban on the farming of dog meat for human consumption. In 2023 the South Korean government agreed to outlaw the farming of dogs for human consumption which was a huge success for HSI and others following years of campaigning. By 2030, they hope their efforts will have led to the closure of all dog meat farms in the country, and that the cultural view that all dogs are worthy companion animals will predominate. South Korea is the only country in the world that commercially farms dogs for human consumption and unbelievably, there are an estimated 2 million dogs (including many breeds) currently kept in cruel conditions on thousands of these farms.  

Needless to say, when HSI asked for our support in shutting down one of these dog meat farms to enable them to rescue and rehabilitate all 171 dogs, we immediately agreed. I am pleased to say that the mission went to plan and HSI expertly coordinated the closure of the farm and the subsequent transport of the dogs to the USA and Canada where they began their rehabilitation and rehoming process. A few months later another opportunity arose to enable the closure of yet another farm and rescue a further 25 dogs from another farmer who was persuaded to relinquish his business and we were honoured to be able to facilitate this rescue. These dogs came to a rescue centre in the UK and were rehabilitated and rehomed from there. Then again, in July 2022, OAT contributed towards the rescue of a further 19 dogs, and another farm was closed.

​

Sadly dog meat farming is not exclusive to South Korea and is a reality in many South East Asian countries. HSI is also working in Indonesia and Vietnam to hopefully repeat the success achieved in South Korea. OAT also supports this ongoing work in both countries.

In addition to the rescue of the Korean dogs, OAT provided crucial support to assist HSI in their work with animals in the Ukraine. So many animals were abandoned and displaced and HSI and their team of colleagues on the ground still continue to help these animals in need.