Gus Kenworthy is a freestyle skier who rides for the United States and is a two-time Olympian, bringing home the silver medal in 2014 from Sochi, Russia.
But skiing isn’t the only thing he is known for. Kenworthy is a huge animal lover, and recently he and his boyfriend, Matt, helped shut down one of South Korea’s many dog meat farms a day after he competed in the Winter Olympics there.
Kenworthy and Matt visited one of the 17,000 dog farms there and sadly witnessed first-hand how poorly these dogs were being treated. The dogs were malnourished and physically abused, and forced to live in small wire-floored pens, where they were exposed to the elements.
“When it comes time to put one down, it is done so in front of the other dogs by means of electrocution, sometimes taking up to 20 agonizing minutes,” Kenworthy explained on Instagram. “Despite the beliefs of some, these dogs are no different from the ones we call pets back home. Some of them were even pets at one time and were stolen or found and sold into the dog meat trade.”
Thanks to these two men, along with the Humane Society International, this particular dog farm will be permanently shut down and the 90 neglected dogs will now be going back to the United States and Canada, where they will be put up for adoption to find loving forever homes.
“I’m hoping to use this visit as an opportunity to raise awareness to the inhumanity of the dog meat trade and the plight of dogs everywhere, including back home in the U.S. where millions of dogs are in need of loving homes!” Kenworthy wrote.
Kenworthy even adopted two of the dogs himself and decided to name them Beemo and Birdie. Sadly, Beemo passed away soon after but Birdie will be celebrating her second birthday in February.
You can visit @hsiglobal‘s page to learn how you can help.
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Dog Seen Outside Of Store With A Sign Around His Neck:
Animal lovers have a lot to say about this story but regardless of what you may think, this is one SMART DOG!
Steve Moore rescued Jackson, a three-year-old Golden Retriever, from the shelter. Jackson needed a home and Moore stepped up to the plate. Moore took Jackson in and began working with him every day. In just a month, Moore had him trained to do something PHENOMENAL! His “trick” had every passerby that saw Jackson, wanting this dog for themselves… a dog NO ONE showed interest in just a month prior.
Moore took Jackson to high traffic, busy areas so he could work with him while getting used to the noises and distractions around him. He had Jackson sit and stay. Then he had him sit and stay for a longer period of time. Then, he had him sit and stay while he walked away from him. He did this repeatedly UNTIL Jackson could be left on his own long enough for Moore to go inside of a store and get his errands done. Since dogs are not allowed in most stores, this was a better alternative to leaving him in a car where he could overheat. Plus, he wouldn’t be tied up, so if an emergency should happen, Jackson could run to safety.
The final stage was to get him to sit and stay WHILE wearing a sign around his neck. “Dad told me to wait here. Me waiting.” And Jackson is really good at waiting! Even with commotion around him and people walking up to say “hi” and give him pets, Jackson waits, FAITHFULLY for his human to return. Now that’s a GOOD BOY!
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Dog Seen Outside Of Store With A Sign Around His Neck:
Lucky Elderly Man Is Greeted Every Day By A “Friend” Who Crawls Out Of The Ice:
We’ve all seen some unique and unlikely friendships over the years, but this one here may take the cake!
One day, a starving otter appeared at an elderly man’s door wanting some food. Ever since, Seppo Laamanen, 65, and Iivari the otter have been inseparable best friends.
Source: StoryTrender/YouTube
It all started when Seppo fed worms and fish to the small and malnourished otter who was clearly looking for food.
After that, the friendly animal repaid the kindness by visiting the man at his home in Punkaharju in easter Finland. This was the start of something special.
Source: StoryTrender/YouTube
There’s no way Seppo could’ve ever imagined it’d all lead to this. This adorably unique friendship is one for the ages, and it’s something you have to see to believe.
There’s nothing like the bond between two friends regardless of the species! 🙂
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10 Of The “Most Loyal” Dog Breeds On The Planet
Giving love and support to humans is something that some dogs do better than others.
While many dogs love everyone they meet and are willing to take treats or belly rubs from anyone, the pups we found are just the opposite.
These 10 dogs are some of the most loyal breeds on the planet. They are rock steady in their loyalty to their owner no matter what.
1) Akita
When the American Kennel Club (AKC) lists loyalty to describe the temperament of the Akita, you know they mean business. The beautiful double-coated working dog of Japanese ancestry is considered hardwired in protecting those she loves. They should be socialized with other dogs and people from the time they are puppies. Their silly, fun, but dignified personalities round out the loyal Akita.
Source: NicoMonaco/Flickr
2) Boxer
This working dog is smart, full of energy, and oh so loyal to their family. They get along great with kids and have an innate instinct to protect their pack. He’s a watchdog with a heart of gold who oozes dedication to his owner.
Source: Pierre Pocs Photography/Flickr
3) Skye Terrier
Known as the “small dog with the big ears,” this adorable breed hails from the Scottish Isle of Skye, hence the name. Whether you live in the city or the country, this small dog with a big personality is steadfast in snuggling, playtime, and remaining loyal to his owners.
Source: WaketheSun/Flickr
4) Beagle
This merry hound is friendly, curious and incredibly loyal. While he doesn’t mind the occasional couch potato time, this spunky pooch is energetic and merry. A fun fact about this hound: the breed standard is for 13 inches and under and another in the 13-15 inch category. No matter how you size him, these adorable dogs just want to cling to you.
Source: Simon Hameau/Flickr
5) Shar-Pei
This wrinkly non-sporting breed is standoffish to strangers but very loyal to his owner. His ancient Chinese roots are part of the charm of the Shar-Pei. Regal, strong, and smart, if you want a BFF for life, this loose-skinned pooch may be the right choice for you.
Source: Alessandro Persano/Flickr
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