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leaf
Joined: 07 Dec 2006
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 Posted: Wed Sep 23, 2009 7:17 am Post subject: |
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I think cats are becoming more popular in Korea as pets, as are other animals.
Although why a having a hedgehog seems to have become a current faze I have no idea!
I have cats and would never let them out here, or any animal to be honest. I help out at an animal rescue centre and the state of some of the animals is unbelievable. And yes, that is also the case in other places - not just in korea.
A massive problem seems to be people buying 'cute' little puppy dogs and not realising, or taking the time to look up the information, that your cute little puppy is going to grow up to be a big dog that DOES need walking. Everyday.
I bought my cat from a market and the seller got out a black plastic bag to put her in. And looked at me crazily when I declined and wrapped her in my scarf.
I think that generally though there is a total lack of respect for animals in Korea because the concept of a 'pet' is alien to the majority. |
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KOREAN_MAN
Joined: 01 Oct 2006
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| Posted: Wed Sep 23, 2009 7:19 am Post subject: |
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| TK421 wrote: |
| No, I'm not racist or insinuating that somebody killing my cat could only happen in Korea. I do know that there are instances in Korea of Koreans kicking cats that they see, cutting off their tails, or capturing stray cats and boiling them alive to make cat soju (this is, I'm assuming, very rare but it does occur). |
I'm sure over 99% of Koreans have never kicked a cat, cut one's tail, or eaten a cat alive or dead. I wonder myself why people here eat dogs but not cats. (Taste no good?) I've never heard of anyone I know eating a cat. But then again, noises might bother your neighbors. You can always adopt another cat so he would have a companion. (Then again, cats are territorial...) I have two cats, both adopted at different times, and they have learned to cope with each other. |
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Konglishman
Joined: 14 Sep 2007
Location: Nanjing
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| Posted: Wed Sep 23, 2009 7:51 am Post subject: |
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| KOREAN_MAN wrote: |
| TK421 wrote: |
| No, I'm not racist or insinuating that somebody killing my cat could only happen in Korea. I do know that there are instances in Korea of Koreans kicking cats that they see, cutting off their tails, or capturing stray cats and boiling them alive to make cat soju (this is, I'm assuming, very rare but it does occur). |
I'm sure over 99% of Koreans have never kicked a cat, cut one's tail, or eaten a cat alive or dead. I wonder myself why people here eat dogs but not cats. (Taste no good?) I've never heard of anyone I know eating a cat. But then again, noises might bother your neighbors. You can always adopt another cat so he would have a companion. (Then again, cats are territorial...) I have two cats, both adopted at different times, and they have learned to cope with each other. |
Oh, don't get us wrong. I don't think anyone was suggesting the majority of Koreans are involved in these things. Well, at least, I wasn't. But nonetheless, some of these things do clearly happen. For example, I remember once my old Korean roommate actually saying that he saw someone once boil a cat alive to make cat soju.
Now, if you don't mind, I have a question to ask. Have you actually seen or heard of Koreans cutting cats' tails? Or is this just a myth? When I ask these questions, I do not mean any disrespect because I am sure that you and the majority of Koreans have never been involved in such a thing. Really, I am honestly just curious.
Last edited by Konglishman on Wed Sep 23, 2009 11:35 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Reise-ohne-Ende
Joined: 07 Sep 2009
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| Posted: Wed Sep 23, 2009 8:17 am Post subject: |
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| Although why a having a hedgehog seems to have become a current faze I have no idea! |
OMGGGGGGGG I want a hedgehog!!! They are illegal in Georgia for some ridiculous reason. I have three rats, and I am honestly in tears at the prospect of giving them to someone else when I move over there.
I just don't know any way to reasonably take them (most airlines won't allow rats, even contained, in anywhere but the cargo area - not even in the special area where they keep dogs!) or ship/buy their cage, food, etc.  |
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shinramyun
Joined: 31 Jul 2009
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| Posted: Wed Sep 23, 2009 8:47 am Post subject: |
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| Konglishman wrote: |
For example, I remember once my old Korean roommate actually saying that he saw someone once boil a cat alive to make cat soju.
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And you actually believed that [Mod Edit]?
How gullible. 
Now I understand why some of korean friends making a joke about foreigners believing everything. |
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Konglishman
Joined: 14 Sep 2007
Location: Nanjing
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| Posted: Wed Sep 23, 2009 8:55 am Post subject: |
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| shinramyun wrote: |
| Konglishman wrote: |
For example, I remember once my old Korean roommate actually saying that he saw someone once boil a cat alive to make cat soju.
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And you actually believed that bulls**t?
How gullible.
Now I understand why some of korean friends making a joke about foreigners believing everything. |
No, I just thought he was trying to annoy me. However, later on, when I moved to Korea and heard about cat soju from several people, I remembered him telling me about that. |
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Reise-ohne-Ende
Joined: 07 Sep 2009
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| Posted: Wed Sep 23, 2009 9:00 am Post subject: |
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| I just read This Is Paradise!: My North Korean Childhood, and he mentions the (live) boiling of cats. I don't know that it was for soju though; it had something to do with celebrating his sister's birthday if I recall correctly. |
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Konglishman
Joined: 14 Sep 2007
Location: Nanjing
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| Posted: Wed Sep 23, 2009 9:09 am Post subject: |
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Actually, I am assuming that my old roommate was referring to the cat soju. All I do remember is that he said he saw someone boil a cat alive. As I recall, he said it was somewhere in a rural area in Korea. Again, at the time, I just thought he was trying to annoy me since he knew that I like cats.
By the way, I found this when doing a google search just now.
http://itstheirdestiny.2kat.net/dogslife.html |
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catman
Joined: 18 Jul 2004
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| Posted: Wed Sep 23, 2009 11:10 am Post subject: |
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| People who don't like cats are evil. |
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Konglishman
Joined: 14 Sep 2007
Location: Nanjing
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| Posted: Wed Sep 23, 2009 11:40 am Post subject: |
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| catman wrote: |
| People who don't like cats are evil. |
The video on your avatar is classic. Unfortunately, I can no longer find it on youtube. |
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Reise-ohne-Ende
Joined: 07 Sep 2009
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| Posted: Wed Sep 23, 2009 12:38 pm Post subject: |
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People are so unbelievably hypocritical. I was vegan for two years, so I certainly understand the urge to prevent animals suffering, but people who demonize other cultures' choice of food animal while continuing to eat animals themselves are so ridiculous. I seriously doubt very many westerners have considered how eating a hamburger appears to Hindus. |
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Konglishman
Joined: 14 Sep 2007
Location: Nanjing
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| Posted: Wed Sep 23, 2009 12:45 pm Post subject: |
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| Reise-ohne-Ende wrote: |
People are so unbelievably hypocritical. I was vegan for two years, so I certainly understand the urge to prevent animals suffering, but people who demonize other cultures' choice of food animal while continuing to eat animals themselves are so ridiculous. I seriously doubt very many westerners have considered how eating a hamburger appears to Hindus. |
I am not demonizing Korean culture. I think that this is something that would disturb many Koreans themselves if they were aware of this. By the way, I don't eat beef or pork. However, I have no problem with people eating animals provided that the animals do not have to endure needless suffering. |
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Reise-ohne-Ende
Joined: 07 Sep 2009
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| Posted: Wed Sep 23, 2009 1:44 pm Post subject: |
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Konglishman, I definitely was not referring to you. I'm sorry if it seemed that way! I agree that no animals should be tortured.
However, from my experience as a vegan, I know that websites like this love to use shock tactics and represent a couple of isolated occurrences as standard practice. It's like if someone took that video of the sadistic kid beating his cat and said, "Of course, not all Americans do this, but it doesn't reflect well on the culture. I've even heard reports of people drowning kittens in a bag in the river!"
You can see how things like that, though technically accurate, would be incredibly misleading.
The amount of Korean people that have ever eaten dog are, as I understand it, 1-2%. I suspect that the vast majority of those would butcher the dog the way they butcher any other animal - quickly. Can you imagine how much time and effort it would take to beat a dog for an hour, like they claim?? It would expend more calories than the meat would provide!
I suspect they had a handful of accounts, some of which were hearsay, and maybe a couple of pictures/videos of dogs in bad conditions, and proceeded to spend hours putting together that website with the dripping blood graphics and emphatic denouncements of Korean culture (they refer to the eating of dog as a "hellish barbecue". Really? Unlike any other barbecue of roasted dead animal flesh?).
Personally, I feel there are much bigger and more salient issues to focus on, even (especially) in the arena of animal rights/welfare.
ETA: Read the "fact or fiction" section of that website!!!
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Fiction and Fact
Below you will see some quotations from a statement made by Onham Shin, Counsellor for Health and Welfare, of the Korean Embassy in Mass., USA. Following each of these misleading comments is the reality. Can their Embassy be so out of touch with its country, or are these blatant lies? You decide.
"Dogs are well loved animals in Korea and are a part of everyday life as human companions and assistants."
Dogs in cages with hen, tethered rooster, and cooked dog on top of the cages.Yes, these dogs look well loved! These photos were taken at Moran market, where dogs are tortured and eaten in full view of others waiting to be killed, and the Koreans only love the dogs on their plates." |
The Koreans only love the dogs on their plates. Woooowww. I'm offended reading that, and I'm a white animal rights supporter.
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"Visitors to Korea would have difficulty finding Koreans in the general population who have ever eaten dog meat and difficulty finding the few specialized restaurants that serve dog meat."
Dog Butcher gestures to stop photographs.Hmmmm.....Doesn't seem that difficult, does it? Sights like this are visible a short walk from the tourist areas.
A telephone poll taken by KBS in August 2006 revealed that 1 in 3 South Koreans eat dog meat. |
One in three. Really. That is some horribly poor sampling and/or reporting.
Throw in a bunch of pictures of animals in cages, with no reference to where the pictures came from or evidence that they are being prepared for food, and you have an extremely inflammatory website.
Personally, I was duped by people like this for several years, which is why I find it particularly offensive. |
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giraffe
Joined: 07 Apr 2009
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| Posted: Wed Sep 23, 2009 2:04 pm Post subject: |
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| Reise-ohne-Ende wrote: |
The amount of Korean people that have ever eaten dog are, as I understand it, 1-2%. |
I dont think the % is that low. Most if not all my wife's friends have tried dog at least once. My wife eats dog stew a few times every summer. But maybe i just happen to know most people part of that 1-2% you mention =p.. Id think the % of peopel who have tried dog would be much higher than what you mention. Then again , i suppose many people know koreans who havent tried it soo who knows.. |
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Reise-ohne-Ende
Joined: 07 Sep 2009
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| Posted: Wed Sep 23, 2009 2:12 pm Post subject: |
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| I might be wrong; I think that was just a statistic I read on the internet somewhere. Regardless, it's not like everyone goes to McDonald's and gets a dogburger all the time. |
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