A Canadian figure skater has adopted another dog while in Pyeongchang for the Winter Olympics to save it from the Korean meat industry.
Taking a stand against the controversial practice, Meagan Duhamel has arranged for a second dog to be taken home to Canada – although it won’t be living with her.
The two-time world champion pairs skater adopted a miniature dachshund, which she named Moo-tea when she visited the country last February and has been encouraging others to do the same.
She told the Sun: ‘I don’t have the luxury of keeping another dog in my small condo. As much as I would love to.’
Canadian figure skater Meagan Duhamel adopted Moo-tae (pictured) to save the puppy from the Korean dog meat trade – and now she’s arranging for a second pooch to fly to Canada
The pooch won’t be living with the two-time world champion pairs skater as she doesn’t have enough room in her home. Ms Duhamel also hopes to work with Humane Society International
Humane Society International saved 90 dogs from this dog meat farm (pictured) after convincing the owner to leave the industry earlier this week
The two-year-old pup, which she adopted through Free Korean Dogs, has lived with Ms. Duhamel and her family in Montreal ever since.
Dog meat soup is still being served in restaurants close to the Olympic Stadium in South Korea, despite a request from the government for owners to stop selling the dish for the duration of the games.
There are 12 dog meat restaurants in Pyeongchang, but only two have removed dog meat dishes completely.
A few other restaurants initially swapped the meat out for pork or goat but sales plummeted and dog meat found its way back on to the menu.
Pyeongchang County government official Lee Yong-bae told AFP that signs advertising dog meat dishes have been switched for more neutral ones to avoid giving ‘a bad impression to foreigners’ during the games.
Mr. Yong-bae added: ‘We’ve faced a lot of complaints from restaurant operators that we are threatening their livelihood.’
Ms Duhamel (pictured at the figure skating team event competition on Friday) has added her voice to the campaign against dog meat being sold in the country
The farm (pictured) was just 40 minutes away from the Olympic village. Dog meat soup is a popular dish in the country over the summer months
Although the meat is classed as ‘detestable’ by the government, this has no legal ramifications for its sale or purchase (pictured: a dog and her puppies at the dog meat farm)
Soups with names such as oshintang (health-boosting soup), yeongyangtang (nutrient soup) and sacheoltang (year-round soup) are now called yeomsotang (goat soup).
Ms. Duhamel has added her voice to the campaign against dog meat being sold in the country and hopes to work with Humane Society International soon.
Earlier this week the charity saved 90 puppies and dogs from a dog meat farm after persuading the owner to give up his trade, according to the Sunday Mirror.
The dogs were being kept on a farm just 40 minutes away from the Olympic village.
It is believed that more than two million dogs are consumed by South Koreans annually, and dog meat soup is a popular meal over the summer months.
Although the meat is classed as ‘detestable’ by the government, this has no legal ramifications for its sale or purchase.
Signs advertising dog meat dishes have been changed for more neutral ones to avoid giving ‘a bad impression to foreigners’
The controversial dish has stayed on the menu at ten out of 12 dog meat restaurants at Pyeongchang
Government officials asked restaurant owners to stop serving dog meat during the Winter Olympics but many said it was negatively effecting their business (pictured: Park Young-ae, the owner of Young Hoon Restaurant in Pyeongchang, arranging dog meats)
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