KARA reported that it has transferred ownership of 53 dogs from the market. (image: KARA)
SEOUL, Jun. 28 (Korea Bizwire) — A number of dogs that were on the verge of slaughter will live a new life after some merchants at Busan’s Gupo Dog Meat Market agreed with animal rights groups to close their businesses early.
Korea Animal Rights Advocates (KARA), along with the Korean Animal Welfare Association, agreed with seven of the 17 dog meat vendors at the Gupo market last Friday to close down their shops early.
KARA reported that it has transferred ownership of 53 dogs from the market.
Earlier last month, the merchant association of Busan’s Buk District and Gupo Livestock Market tentatively agreed to close 19 stores in the market.
Under the tentative agreement, the merchants who agreed to shut down will stop slaughtering live dogs from July 1 and close down permanently on July 11.
Animal rights groups have been negotiating with merchants for an early closure, fearing that many dogs would be victimized before the suspension date.
The groups first transferred nine dogs who are young or need tests and treatment to an animal hospital, and will soon send the rest of the dogs to a protected area.
KARA is regretful that not all businesses currently operating agreed to shut down early.
Nonetheless, KARA also said the achieving early closure with a number of merchants was a great success, given that about 300 more dogs could have been victimized without an early closure agreement.
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
