Gus Kenworthy helped shut down a Korean farm that raised dogs for food.The dogs are now available for adoption via the Humane Society International.Kenworthy also adopted a dog of his own, whom he named Beemo.Gus Kenworthy may not be leaving South Korea with an Olympic medal, but he is taking home an adorable dog. The freestyle skier shared several social media posts Friday explaining why he decided to adopt a puppy—whom he named Beemo—after he and his boyfriend Matt Wilkas made a "heart-wrenching" visit to a Korean dog meat farm. "This morning Matt and I had a heart-wrenching visit to one of the 17,000 dog farms here in South Korea," Kenworthy wrote in a lengthy post on Instagram. "Across the country there are 2.5 million dogs being raised for food in some of the most disturbing conditions imaginable. Yes, there is an argument to be made that eating dogs is a part of Korean culture. And, while don't personally agree with it, I do agree that it's not my place to impose western ideals on the people here. The way these animals are being treated, however, is completely inhumane and culture should never be a scapegoat for cruelty."In the same post, Kenworthy provided a slideshow of photos that showcase the farm's poor living conditions. "The dogs here are malnourished and physically abused, crammed into tiny wire-floored pens, and exposed to the freezing winter elements and scorching summer conditions," he shared.The two-time Olympian, who adopted two stray dogs during his run at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, said the farm he visited will be permanently shut down and that all of the 90 dogs at that specific location would be available for adoption in the U.S. and Canada through the Humane Society International organization. "I'm hoping to use this visit as an opportunity to raise awareness to the inhumanity of the dog meat trade here in Korea and the plight of dogs everywhere, including back home in the US where millions of dogs are in need of loving homes!" Kenworthy said. The 26-year-old athlete is known to be outspoken about causes he cares about, which is why he is also widely considered as the unofficial LGBT flag-bearer at this year's Games.On Twitter, Kenworthy responded to a critic who called him out for using his status to impose his own ideals on other cultures. "This is neo-colonialism at its finest. Just because you like dogs doesn't make eating pigs/cows/chicken etc any more moral. Especially when they are treated in equally barbaric ways," the user wrote."Just b/c 10 things are wrong doesn't mean working to solve 1 issue is bad b/c it leaves 9 other problems. It's still positive change," Kenworthy wrote back, adding in another tweet that the problem in Korea is "much more manageable."Kenworthy joins Meagan Duhamel, an Olympic pair skater and animal advocate from Canada, who also saved a dog from a Korean farm when she visited the country last February during an Olympic test run. Since her dog's adoption, Duhamel has shared many photos of her pup, Moo-tae, who appears to be enjoying quite a nice life in his new home. "Now that Mootae is free from the Korean Dog Meat Industry, he enjoys lounging in the sunshine in the safety of his home," Duhamel wrote.
- Gus Kenworthy helped shut down a Korean farm that raised dogs for food.
- The dogs are now available for adoption via the .
- Kenworthy also adopted a dog of his own, whom he named Beemo.
Gus Kenworthy may not be leaving South Korea with an Olympic medal, but he is taking home an adorable dog.
The freestyle skier shared several social media posts Friday explaining why he decided to adopt a puppy—whom he named Beemo—after he and his boyfriend Matt Wilkas made a "heart-wrenching" visit to a Korean dog meat farm.
"This morning Matt and I had a heart-wrenching visit to one of the 17,000 dog farms here in South Korea," Kenworthy wrote in a on . "Across the country there are 2.5 million dogs being raised for food in some of the most disturbing conditions imaginable. Yes, there is an argument to be made that eating dogs is a part of Korean culture. And, while don't personally agree with it, I do agree that it's not my place to impose western ideals on the people here. The way these animals are being treated, however, is completely inhumane and culture should never be a scapegoat for cruelty."
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You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.
In the same post, Kenworthy provided a that showcase the farm's poor living conditions. "The dogs here are malnourished and physically abused, crammed into tiny wire-floored pens, and exposed to the freezing winter elements and scorching summer conditions," he shared.
The two-time Olympian, who Winter Olympics in Sochi, said the farm he visited will be permanently shut down and that all of the 90 dogs at that specific location would be available for adoption in the U.S. and Canada through the organization.
"I'm hoping to use this visit as an opportunity to raise awareness to the inhumanity of the dog meat trade here in Korea and the plight of dogs everywhere, including back home in the US where millions of dogs are in need of loving homes!" Kenworthy said.
The 26-year-old athlete is known to be outspoken about causes he cares about, which is why he is also widely considered as the at this year's Games.
On , Kenworthy responded to a critic who called him out for using his status to impose his own ideals on other cultures. "This is neo-colonialism at its finest. Just because you like dogs doesn't make eating pigs/cows/chicken etc any more moral. Especially when they are treated in equally barbaric ways," the user wrote.
This content is imported from Twitter.
You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.
"Just b/c 10 things are wrong doesn't mean working to solve 1 issue is bad b/c it leaves 9 other problems. It's still positive change," Kenworthy , adding in another tweet that the problem in Korea is "much more manageable."
This content is imported from Twitter.
You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.
Kenworthy joins , an Olympic pair skater and animal advocate from Canada, who also from a Korean farm when she visited the country last February during an Olympic test run.
Since her dog's adoption, Duhamel has shared many photos of her pup, Moo-tae, who appears to be enjoying quite a nice life in his new home. "Now that Mootae is free from the Korean Dog Meat Industry, he enjoys lounging in the sunshine in the safety of his home," Duhamel .
