Lily and I have partnered up with the kind and courageous folks at In Defense of Animals to help spotlight and eradicate animal cruelty, particularly the pernicious dog meat and fur trade. Proud to stand aside them, Soi Dog Foundation, Coexistence of Animal Rights on Earth and Animals Asia in this vital fight worth waging
Honoring Cesar Chavez Around the World
One of the most perfidious myths in South Korea is that there exists two types of dogs—"meat dogs" and animal companions. It is one of the few countries in the world to make this baffling distinction. Of course dogs are dogs, and the reality is that any dog may end up in the dog meat trade, because there are no dogs bred specifically for the purpose of human consumption. Tragically, any dog—former companions abandoned or abducted, dogs from puppy mills, shelters, closed auctions, purebreds—can be processed for food. So how do we reconcile when a dog is considered a companion at home but the same dog out on the street is considered meat? The truth is to recognize this industry of horror, which traffics in lies, profit, unimaginable cruelty, and a looming public health catastrophe for both humans and dogs.
With a messianic ardor, Richie Kul (http://www.facebook.com/RichieKul), model, actor, and animal advocate, and Lily, Richie's co-star, former stray, and now treasured pride and joy, campaign all over the world on behalf of animals in need—innocent souls destined for the food and fur trade in Southeast Asia, factory farms and slaughterhouses everywhere, shelters crammed with the scared and discarded—reaching across the vast system of animal use and abuse. Appearing in acclaimed indy hits and fronting high-profile worldwide fashion and commercial campaigns, Richie transcends cultures and traditions and borders, because with a fierce moral courage and daring, he acts upon the simple yet powerful credo that suffering is suffering. He passionately supports and advocates for cruelty-free fashion labels and animal-protection organizations and dreams of freedom for all animals.
In Defense of Animals is proud to join Richie and Lily in the fight against the dog and cat meat trade in South Korea.
To read about a recent rescue from South Korea, please click on http://www.idausa.org/survivor/
photo by Duc Nguyen (http://www.ducphotography.com/)
