In 2002, ACRES joined hands with AsiaLink, a coalition of animal protection organisations across 12 Asian countries, to raise our collective voice against the dog and cat meat trade in South Korea. As part of this united effort, ACRES held a press conference in Singapore and presented a joint statement to the South Korean Government, urging stronger enforcement and improvement of their animal protection laws.
This call to action was grounded in deep concern for the immense suffering endured by the animals in this trade. Dogs are often raised in grim conditions, confined to cages their entire lives on breeding farms. In markets, they are packed tightly in wire cages, unable to stand or move freely. Many are killed by electrocution, hanging, or are beaten to death, sometimes in front of other animals.
The suffering is equally horrific for cats, many of whom are boiled—sometimes alive—in pressure cookers to produce so-called medicinal tonics. Others are beaten with blunt instruments, all in the name of outdated myths and commercial profit.
A Plea for Compassion
On 14 June 2002, ACRES delivered the AsiaLink coalition’s “Statement on the Issue of Dog Eating in South Korea” to the South Korean Embassy in Singapore, along with a powerful video titled “Culture or Excuse”. The footage documented the harsh realities of farming, transporting, and slaughtering dogs for meat—providing visual testimony of cruelty that words alone could not convey.
The joint statement, endorsed by animal welfare organisations across Asia, called on the South Korean Government to take decisive action:
“We, as Asians working for the protection of animals, believe that the practice of dog eating in South Korea should be banned. This cruel trade does not reflect the values of compassion and respect that are integral to our shared heritage. Most Asians view dogs as family members, not food.”
The statement also raised concerns about reports that dog meat consumption would be promoted during the 2002 FIFA World Cup in South Korea—a move that would only reinforce harmful stereotypes and undermine efforts to build a more humane image of Asia.
United for Change
ACRES stood alongside the following AsiaLink members in signing this heartfelt appeal:
- Bangladesh: Bangladesh Animal Welfare Organisation (BAWO)
- China: Educational Group for the Protection of Environment & Animals
- Indonesia: Animal Conservation for Life (KSBK), Bali Street Dog Foundation
- Japan: Japan Wildlife Conservation Society (JWCS), All Life In a Viable Environment (ALIVE)
- Malaysia: Sarawak SPCA
- Nepal: National Zoonoses & Food Hygiene Research Centre
- Philippines: Philippine Society for the Protection of Animals (PSPA)
- Singapore: Animal Concerns Research & Education Society (ACRES)
- Sri Lanka: Kandy Association for Community Protection through Animal Welfare (KACPAW)
- Taiwan: Environment & Animal Society of Taiwan (EAST)
- Thailand: Thai Animal Guardians Association (Thai AGA)
A Call for a Kinder Asia
The dog and cat meat trade is not a cultural practice—it is a cruel industry that has no place in a modern, compassionate society. Most people across Asia reject and condemn these acts of brutality. It is time to stand together and uphold values of empathy, respect, and protection for all animals.
We urge governments, communities, and individuals to take meaningful steps toward ending this trade, protecting companion animals, and creating a world where cruelty has no justification—cultural or otherwise.
Let us not confuse tradition with justification. Compassion must always lead.
Read ACRES Press Releases on the dog and cat meat trade
Learn more: The Ugly Truth Behind Dog Meat Trade