Friendship City Campaign – Paju, South Korea – Pasadena, California
Campaign updated on 11/4/2021.
Pasadena, California: Tell Friendship City, Paju, South Korea, That We’re Opposed to the Torture and Consumption of Dogs and Cats.
If you want to help fight the grisly South Korean dog and cat meat trade and make a difference in South Korea, here are a few quick actions you can take that could save millions of dogs and cats each year.
Paju Mayor Choi Jong-Hwan
Paju became a Friendship City with Pasadena, California in 2009.
In Paju, there are countless dog farms, slaughterhouses, markets, and restaurants where the dogs, who are tortured their entire lives, end up being slaughtered in the most inhumane ways, such as by electrocution, hanging or beating; and then thrown into boiling water – sometimes while they are still alive. In many places, dogs are killed in full view of other terrified, caged dogs; and this takes place in broad daylight. In addition, many abandoned and stolen former pets end up in this industry and are subject to the same cruelty.
A Search Engine reveals the sickening scale of Paju’s dog meat demand.
Two searches on Naver (the most popular search engine in Korea) – one was for so-called “Health Centers” which commonly sell dog elixirs and cat elixirs (also known as dog soju and cat soju) and the second one was for “dog meat restaurants” – resulted in many dozens of “Health Centers” and dog meat restaurants in the vicinity of Paju.
Even if half of these “Health Centers” and restaurants serve dog and cat ‘ingredients’ in one form or another, imagine how many dog/cat slaughterhouses must be present in the vicinity of Paju to supply these outlets.
There are laws in South Korea against selling dogs and cats for consumption, yet these laws are blatantly ignored.
Call for Action
- 📧 Send emails to the elected officials of Pasadena:
vgordo@cityofpasadena.net; cbell@cityofpasadena.net; ddyson@cityofpasadena.net; sporras@cityofpasadena.net; nsullivan@cityofpasadena.net; lmorales@cityofpasadena.net; tsuzuki@cityofpasadena.net; pthyret@cityofpasadena.net;
- 📬 Send letter (Use the below-suggested message or petition):
Mayor’s Office
Pasadena City Hall
100 N. Garfield Ave., Pasadena, CA 91109
USASend a copy of your letter to the Paju Mayor:
Mayor Choi Jong-Hwan
Paju City Hall
50 Sicheong-ro, Paju, Gyeonggi-do Province, Postal Code 10932
South KoreaAddress in Korean:
최종환 파주시장님
파주시청
(우 10932) 경기도 파주시 시청로 50
South Korea - Send a message through Facebook page:
- ☎️ Call the Pasadena Mayor’s office: (626) 744-4111
Suggested phone message
Hello, I’m calling to speak to someone in the Mayor’s Office to ask for their help on an important issue regarding your Friendship city, Paju, in South Korea.
If I could explain: dog-meat consumption is currently being practiced in that city, even though it is illegal under South Korean Law – but the laws are not enforced. The dog and cat meat trades involve extreme and widespread animal cruelty, and the animals suffer unimaginable pain and distress. They cannot speak for themselves, which is why I am calling on their behalf. And, I believe that your city would wish to be made aware of this issue, as you would not want to be affiliated with a city where illegal and immoral torture is being carried out on any animal, and particularly not on ones that are loyal, trusting creatures, which look up to us humans as their guardians.
These illegal trades are being allowed to continue by Paju and Korean authorities – even though there is growing opposition from pet owners across South Korea and worldwide.
So, I am asking you to please speak with your counterparts in Paju to urge them to enforce their laws, not ignore them, show compassion to their companion animals, and respect their citizens by bringing these trades to an end.
I know that South Korea has many beautiful, admirable, and noble practices and customs worth preserving, but this is not one of them.
Thank you for your time and understanding.
- Send a Twitter message!
.@PasadenaGov .@pajusi .@PasadenaCaD2 .@PasadenaD5 #Pasadena #California: Tell Friendship City #Paju #SouthKorea That We’re Opposed to the Torture and Consumption of #Dogs #Cats #Dogmeat #Catmeat https://chng.it/j9MbwCzG 🙏 https://koreandogs.org/friendship-city-paju-pasadena
CC (Carbon Copy) the Paju and Gyeonggi-do Provincial governments:
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📝 Suggested message
Subject: Pasadena, California, Tell Friendship City, Paju, South Korea, That We’re Opposed to the Torture and Consumption of Dogs and Cats.
Dear Mayor Victor M. Gordo and the Pasadena City Council members:
We ask you to please watch the videos of South Korea’s dog meat industry:
Shocking Cruelty of South Korea’s Dog Meat Industry, Part 1 of 2: https://youtu.be/_ZVQjgGb4RQ
Part 2 of 2: https://vimeo.com/754160791
Paju dog auction house operating on “Blind Spot”,.. Even on military-owned land?, KBS News, 9/15/2019: https://youtu.be/C6svoHlN2WM
https://koreandogs.org/kara-paju-dog-auction-house/
South Korea – Unbelievable Truth (Companion Animals for Consumption): https://koreandogs.org/companion-animals-for-consumption/.
Do you think Pasadena should be a Friendship city to any city that allows dogs and cats to be tortured and eaten? Would you please urge Paju Mayor Choi Jong-Hwan to close down all those illegal dog farms and slaughterhouses, markets, truckers, and restaurants that serve these animal products? An online petition calling for your support in ending the horrendous Paju’s dog and cat meat cruelty is in progress: https://chng.it/j9MbwCzG.
The favor of your reply is requested.
Thank you.
No matter where you live, PLEASE SHARE these actions with your friends, especially those who live in Pasadena! 🙏
Share this:
Here is the letter I sent to the 3 Pasadena representatives & posted on their FB page.
It’s too long, but perhaps someone can find my many “talking points” useful for their own letters. The more we send, the faster we can help end this horrific industry. Thank you for all you do, bj
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Dear Mayor Terry Tornek and the Pasadena City Council members:
WHY is Pasadena a “sister city” to any city that allows dogs and cats to be tortured and eaten?
As you well know, South Korea is the home to major global companies, like Hyundai, Kia, Samsung, LG, Daewoo, SK and POSCO.
But Korea is ALSO home to countless dog slaughterhouses, markets and restaurants where dogs & cats — who are tortured their entire lives — end up being slaughtered in the most inhumane ways possible, e.g. by electrocution, hanging or beating, allegedly because pain and fear hormones tenderize the poor animal’s meat and makes it “healthier”.
Then these poor animals are thrown into boiling water – sometimes while they are still alive. In many places, dogs and cats are killed in full view of the other terrified, caged future victims; and all of this willful evil takes place in public and in broad daylight.
Moreover, many abandoned and stolen former pets end up in this industry, and are subjected to this same despicable cruelty. Rabies and distemper are a public health problem wherever dog and cat meat is eaten, yet these reckless traders & the deluded consumers buying from them couldn’t care less, because Korea’s new animal welfare “laws” are simply not being upheld.
Please watch the undercover videos from South Korea’s dog meat industry: http://youtu.be/3uR8R8Mu70Q
Then please ask yourselves: WHY is Pasadena a “sister city” to any city that allows dogs and cats to be tortured and eaten?
July’s horrific annual Boknal Festival has just ended in Korea, where many, many thousands of dogs and cats, including many stolen pets, are killed as painfully as possible because their adrenaline-charged meat is superstitiously believed to ward off asinine ailments like heat stroke and impotence.
What is this — the Middle Ages? These people aren’t starving and desperate. They are callous barbarians who disrespect nature and enjoy our fellow creatures’ agony, in spite of the recent laws forbidding their despicable actions.
Paju is one of the largest dog meat consumption areas in South Korea. The Korean internet searches resulted in: 143 so-called “Health Food Centers”, which commonly sell elixirs made from dog and cats (also known as dog soju and cat soju); and 135 dog meat soup restaurants in and around the city of Paju alone.
That is why it is so horrifying that an allegedly civilized and modern nation barbarically tortures and slaughters an estimated 2.5 million dogs every year and countless cats as well, because of the greed of the dog & cat meat industry and the callous indifference of its citizens and “consumers”. While the majority of South Koreans don’t actually participate in this offensive trade, they show a profound (& profoundly disturbing) indifference toward its existence and they do nothing at all to stop it.
Do you want to keep condoning this medieval barbarity with your friendship with this city and society? Millions of animal lovers the world over OPPOSE such hypocritical pretenses.
We call on you to immediately notify Paju Mayor Jae-Hong Lee of your awareness of the worldwide protests against this horrific (and supposedly illegal) industry in his country and vehemently urge him to close down ALL dog farms and slaughterhouses, markets, truckers and restaurants who serve their products as soon as humanly possible.
12 brand new animal welfare laws empower him to do this – all Paju Mayor Jae-Hong Lee has to do is enforce them.
Pasadena should not be a Sister city to any city that allows dogs and cats to be tortured and eaten. If Koreans can invent and market all manner of modern products and technology, they can take action to end this despicable and most medieval barbarism in their midst. It is unacceptable to kill man’s best friends as cruelly as possible to cater to primitive superstitions — this is the 21st century and we REFUSE to be friends with nations that refuse to join it.
Please withdraw your sister city status from Paju and be sure to TELL THEM WHY you are rejecting them. Urge Paju Mayor Jae-Hong Lee to close down all dog farms and slaughterhouses, markets, truckers and restaurants who serve their products. An online petition calling for your support in ending the horrendous South Korean dog and cat meat cruelty is in progress:
https://www.change.org/p/city-of-pasadena-tell-friendship-city-paju-korea-that-we-re-opposed-to-torture-consumption-of-dogs-cats
Thank you for your time and efforts to help these poor agonized creatures, There are a number of rescue organizations like Soi Dog or Animals Asia and local others who are ready and willing to help rescue and rehabilitate and rehome the animals victimized by Asian meat traders. Some even help the traders get into a new line of work.
But none of those positive things can happen unless the good, animal loving people of the world Stand Up for What is Right. Thanks again, Signed, A horrified expat
La cruauté envers un être sans défense est indigne de l’humain, inacceptable!
Dear Beth J I agree with everything you have said,I hope that it will finally end the horror of these poor dogs and cats.
This makes me sick
please stop this! this is so sick..ik made me cry. those animals are the most loving animals in the world…
Please stop this cruelty now. You have the power to do it. Show compassion and humanity. Please
Dieses Korea Volk sollte man genau so Schlachten wie sie die Hunde Behandeln. Das sind doch keine Menschen das ist Ungeziefer.