Gus Kenworthy Saves Pup From Korean Dog Meat Farm
Gus Kenworthy helped shut down a Korean farm that raised dogs for food.
The dogs are now available for adoption via the Human 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 visited 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."
Dogs are friends. Not food. pic.twitter.com/3wgx2oS2qv
- Gus Kenworthy (@guskenworthy) February 23, 2018
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.