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Sharing from Korean Animal Welfare Association (동물자유연대): Join the petition signing now!

The Gimpo dog farm is an especially horrific dog farm that has been reported multiple times since June 14, 2021. Some examples of what people have witnessed:

“A dog escaped while being skinned alive.”
“A dog’s legs were tied while it was still alive, there were holes in both legs, and half of its belly had the skin peeled off.”
“Dogs are being slaughtered inside the walls. The smell of burning flesh is overwhelming.”

KAWA has repeatedly requested on-site inspections from local animal protection authorities. However, due to the inadequate response from the local authorities, activists found themselves repeatedly waiting outside the farm, unable to take action. They decided that they could wait no longer, so in late May of 2023, activists staked out near the dog farm late at night and witnessed situations that raised suspicions of slaughter.

The suffering they witnessed behind the black screens of the Gimpo dog farm was unimaginable. The smell of burning fur from torches, the desperate wailing from hundreds of dogs, the overwhelming stench of blood in the air – death and despair were everywhere they looked. Activists tried to prevent additional suffering by again requesting intervention from the police and the Gimpo City officials. However, they couldn’t ignore the plight of dogs dying right in front of them.

KAWA activists entered the dog farm to request, “Stop the slaughter, as the police will arrive soon.” While waiting for the police, activists found about 700 dogs howling in cages and bodies sprawled all over the floor.

Unbelievably, when the police finally did arrive, instead of taking action against the dog farm, they actually ended up referring the activists and the TV producers to the prosecution! These people now face possible prosecution for supposedly trespassing on a dog farm without permission.

Please help these activists! KAWA has been working tirelessly for over 20 years to advocate for animals. If even the action taken to prevent dogs suffering in front of them is technically considered against the law, our society will descend into bystanders of animal abuse, allowing the horrific deaths of animals to go unchecked. Help ensure that people will continue to take action and speak out against dog farms like this one. Please sign the petition now to protect the activists. 👉 Sign the KAWA’s Petition(in Korean)

👉 Click HERE for Hankookilbo News’s article covering this case.

Call for Action

• 👉 Click HERE to file a petition with the South Korean government through e-People online. (You can use our “Suggested message” below or your own words.)
  📌 Need help with the e-People petition? Click HERE for instructions.

📝 Suggested message (KAWA’s Petition in English)

Incheon District Prosecutor’s Office, Bucheon Branch: Please grant a “no charge” or “no crime committed” decision to the activists facing prosecution for trying to stop shockingly cruel dog slaughter!

Petition: https://chng.it/7v56GCvWrH

Respected Prosecutor,

I submit this petition to request a decision of “no charges” or “no crime committed” regarding the case where eight activists from the Korean Animal Welfare Association(KAWA) and three producers from SBS TV’s “Animal Farm” were referred to the prosecution for trespassing into the Gimpo dog slaughterhouse on May 16, 2023.

KAWA, to which the suspects are members, was established to ensure humane treatment for all animals managed by humans and reduce the number and variety of animals exploited or losing their habitats due to human activities, thus achieving ecological and ethical harmony between humans and animals. Since its first broadcast in 2001, the SBS program has not merely focused on showcasing the “cute” aspects of animals or their interactions with humans but has consistently contributed to animal welfare and the improvement of animal rights by actively addressing issues such as fur farming, dog fighting, animal shows, puppy mills, and other forms of animal abuse. The program has consistently stimulated social interest in enhancing animal welfare and rights beyond depicting endearing scenes or interspecies communication.

Regarding the Gimpo dog slaughterhouse, since June 14, 2021, on seven different occasions, citizens have reported incidents of abuse, like dogs being skinned alive.

A person reported, “A dog’s legs were tied while alive, both legs had holes, and half of the belly had the skin peeled off.” “Dogs were being slaughtered inside the wall. The smell of burning flesh was overwhelming.” – Excerpt from a recording of a report from a resident near the Gimpo dog slaughterhouse (May 17, 2022)

Numerous complaints were filed with the Gimpo Agricultural Technology Center, stating, “Dog slaughter has been confirmed.”

Starting April 27, 2023, the Animal Protection Act prohibits cruelty to animals beyond legitimate reasons. To help ensure compliance with this law, the activists entered the dog farm on May 16, 2023, to verify the validity of multiple reports of animal abuse. After personally witnessing numerous acts of animal abuse, and based on the conclusion of an animal behavior Ph.D. (a veterinarian) that the illegal slaughter of animals was occurring, they realized they had to take decisive actions to save these animals. Following all guidelines for dealing with animal abuse, they reported the situation to the local police and animal protection officials.

While waiting for the authorities to arrive, the activists could not ignore the imminent danger to the lives of these animals if not rescued immediately. This decision was based on the abnormal sounds of distressed dogs, the smell of blood, and the odor of burning fur using torches. They, therefore, entered the Gimpo dog slaughterhouse to gather more evidence and stop any illegal slaughter. However, when the police arrived, instead of prosecuting the criminal activities at the dog farm, they referred the activists to the prosecution for trespassing using the absurd pretext of “home invasion.”

Instances of animal abuse often occur discreetly inside residences or buildings, making it challenging to obtain any evidence of these offenses. But based on reports by neighbors and evidence the activists personally witnessed at the scene, we now have proof that illegal slaughter was unquestionably taking place at the Gimpo dog slaughterhouse. If such actions taken to save the lives of animals in urgent situations are considered a “home invasion,” the role of non-profit organizations in animal protection will be significantly undermined. Consequently, preventing unlawful acts of animal cruelty in the future will become even more challenging.

Therefore, I earnestly request the Incheon District Prosecutor’s Office, Bucheon Branch, to do the right thing in this case, adhere to the spirit of the Animal Protection Act, promote a society that values the sanctity of all life, and uphold justice for animals.

Sincerely,

Name, City, Country

📝 Suggested message in Korean (KAWA’s Petition)

인천지방검찰청 부천지청: 개 도살 막으려던 중 고발당한 활동가들에게 혐의없음 또는 죄가안됨 처분을 요청드립니다!

전자청원: https://chng.it/7v56GCvWrH

존경하는 검사님, 서명 날인한 시민들은 동물자유연대 활동가 8인과 SBS TV 동물농장 3인이 지난 5월 16일 김포 개 도살장을 침입하였다는 혐의로 검찰에 송치된 사안에 대해 혐의없음 또는 죄가안됨 처분을 요청하기 위하여 본 탄원서를 제출하는 바입니다.

피의자들이 소속된 사단법인 동물자유연대는 인간에 의해 관리되는 모든 동물이 인도적인 대우를 받게 하고, 나아가 인간에 의해 착취당하거나 삶의 터전을 잃어가는 동물의 수와 종을 줄여감으로써 인간과 동물이 생태적, 윤리적 조화를 이루며 살아가는 것을 목적으로 설립되었고, SBS 프로그램은 2001년 첫 방송을 시작한 이래, 동물들의 귀여운 모습이나 동물과 인간 사이의 교감 등을 보여주는 것에 머무르지 않고, 모피·투견·동물쇼·강아지공장 등 동물학대 문제를 고발하고 반려동물 문화 개선에 관한 사회적 관심을 환기하는 등 동물 복지와 동물권 향상에 꾸준히 이바지하여 왔습니다.

이 사건 김포 개 도살장에 대해서는 2021년 6월 14일부터 무려 7회에 걸쳐 “산채로 껍질이 벗겨지다가 도망 나온 개”라는 등의 시민제보가 있었습니다.

-“개가 산채로 다리가 묶여가지고 막 두 다리가 홈이 파졌고, 배하고 1/2은 껍데기를 벗겼어요.”, “그 당시 아마 담벼락 안에는 개를 잡고 있는 거예요. 개 지지는 냄새가 엄청났거든요.” -김포 개 도살장 인근 주민 제보 녹취 일부 발췌(22.5.17)

-김포시 농업기술센터에도 ‘개 도살이 확인되었다’는 등의 취지로 수차례 민원이 제기됨

동물보호법상 정당한 사유 이외 동물 학대 등의 금지가 2023년 4월 27일부터 시행됨에 따라 활동가들은 2023년 5월 16일 고통받는 동물들을 구조하기 위해 현장 활동을 하였습니다. 그간 시민 제보의 내용(불법 개 도살)이 사실인지 여러 차례 확인하였고, 도살이 명백해 보인다는 동물행동학 박사(수의사)의 판단 하에 구조를 결정하였으며, 동물 학대 대응 길잡이에 따라 관할 경찰과 동물보호관 공무원에게 신고하였습니다.

당시 동물자유연대 활동가는 비정상적인 개 울음소리, 피비린내와 토치로 털을 태우는 냄새 등을 통해 즉시 구조하지 않으면 동물의 생명에 급박한 위험이 있다고 판단하여 도살을 멈추게 할 목적으로 김포 개 도살장 안으로 진입했다가 공동주거침입죄 명목으로 검찰에 송치되었습니다.

동물 학대 행위는 주거지 또는 건조물 내부에서 은밀하게 이뤄지는 특성이 있다 보니 그 혐의를 포착하기가 상당히 어렵습니다. 주변 이웃의 제보와 현장에서 발견한 정황에 따라 김포 개 도살장에서 명백히 불법 도살이 이루어진다고 확신하였습니다. 긴급한 상황에서 동물의 생명을 구하기 위한 행동까지 공동주거침입죄로 처벌한다면, 동물보호를 위한 민간단체들의 역할이 크게 위축될 것이므로, 향후 위법한 동물 학대 행위를 적발하기란 더욱 어려워질 것입니다.

이에 탄원인은 인천지방검찰청 부천지청에 송치된 본 건에 관하여 현명한 결단으로 향후 생명을 함부로 죽여서는 안 된다는 상식이 통하는 사회, 생명을 가벼히 여기지 않는 정의로운 사회를 만들어 주시길 간곡히 청원합니다.

Name, City, Country

• 📬 Send letter to the Incheon District Prosecutor’s Office, Bucheon Branch Director.

  Bucheon Branch Director Cha Soon-gil
  Incheon District Prosecutor’s Office, Bucheon Branch
  Sangil-ro 127, Bucheon, Gyeonggi-do
  Postal Code 14602
  South Korea

  📬 Bucheon Branch Director’s address in Korean:

  인천지방검찰청 부천지청장 차순길
  (14602) 경기도 부천시 상일로 127
  South Korea

• 📧 Send emails to the Gyeonggi-do Assembly and the South Korean National Assembly members.

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👈 Click to read the campaign in Korean.

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Below is ChatGPT’s translation of Korean Animal Welfare Association(KAWA)’s Facebook post on November 22, 2023:

Sign the Petition: Please protect activists facing prosecution for trying to stop shockingly cruel dog slaughter!

“A dog’s legs were tied while it was still alive, there were holes in both legs, and half of its belly had the skin peeled off.”
Korean Animal Welfare Association(KAWA) received multiple reports of dog slaughter at a dog farm in Gimpo. After conducting on-site investigations, we decided to engage in rescue. When we called the police through a 112 emergency report upon witnessing the slaughter, the farm owner retaliated by accusing activists of trespassing and filing a complaint. The local police, in turn, initiated a comprehensive investigation, including 8 activists and 3 individuals from SBS TV Animal Farm, totaling 11 people, and referred the case to the prosecution.

Previously, KAWA reported another dog slaughter at a facility in Gangwon Province. Despite the assurance of imminent slaughter, the police refused to intervene, citing a lack of evidence. This response has been typical in cases of animal abuse, where law enforcement often appears powerless.

Due to the perceived ineffectiveness of authorities, animal abuse and dog slaughter continue to openly defy the law, leaving citizens desperate and compelled to take matters into their own hands. Despite the growth of the animal rights movement in South Korea since 2000 and the strengthening of animal protection laws, some aspects remain unchanged.

The current incident prompted us to request an inspection by local animal welfare officials based on external investigation findings. However, due to inadequate response from local authorities, activists repeatedly had to turn back empty-handed while waiting outside the dog farm.

Our activists could not delay any longer, staked out near the farm late at night, reported the sounds of dogs likely being slaughtered and the smell of burning bodies, and promptly requested an immediate police response. However, unwilling to wait for the police to arrive at a scene where dogs were seemingly being killed, some activists entered the farm.

On entering, they found over 700 dogs and evidence of slaughtered dogs on the ground. Even a mother dog, having recently given birth, was seen nursing her pups. The situation escalated when the farm owner appeared, demanding activists to leave. Subsequently, the police arrived, inspected the farm, and concluded that there were no issues inside despite the apparent removal of dog corpses.

The police and local officials, acknowledging numerous complaints about the farm, accused activists of trespassing without conducting a thorough investigation. All 11 individuals, after several months of interrogation, have been sent to the prosecution with a recommendation for indictment, including those who never entered the farm.

Despite our efforts to engage in legal activities on-site, the urgency of the situation requires prioritizing the principle of preserving life above all else.

*Please help to support the activists! Help activists fulfill their role by joining the petition so they can continue to rush to aid distressed animals without facing further difficulties.
*Please ensure that the dreams of veterinary students and young adults who have just entered society to provide immediate care to rescued animals will not be tarnished as criminals!

👈 Click to read the Korean Animal Welfare Association’s (KAWA) Facebook post on November 22, 2023, in Korean.