Yummy, Dog Meat...Gus Kenworthy, Matt Wilkas, Beemo, Simba, Saeed, Mussa, Rescue TV, FOUR PAWS International

Olympian (and of The Challenge: Champs vs. Pros fame) Gus Kenworthy, who competed for the U.S. in slopestyle skiing during the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, might not have won a medal, but he is not leaving Korea empty-handed. After his competition, Kenworthy and his boyfriend Matt Wilkas decided to visit a Korean dog meat farm – and seize the opportunity to raise awareness for the dog meat trade and inspire others to help dogs in need. The meaningful visit also resulted in a new little member of their household!

The Olympian documented the “heart-wrenching visit” on Instagram, emphasizing that there are around 17,000 dog farms in South Korea and 2.5 million dogs are being raised for food “in some of the most disturbing conditions imaginable” across the country.

Kenworthy noted that eating dog meat may be considered part of Korean culture, but the way in which the animals kept on meat farms are treated is “completely inhumane and culture should never be a scapegoat for cruelty.”

“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,” Kenworthy wrote.”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… Some of them were even pets at one time and were stolen or found and sold into the dog meat trade.“

Thankfully, the farm visited by Kenworthy and Wilkas is now being permanently shut down – thanks to Humane Society International and the cooperation of the farmer. All of the 90 dogs kept on the farm will be brought to the U.S. and Canada, where they will finally have a chance to be loved.

Kenworthy adopted one of the rescued puppies, Beemo, who will come to the U.S. to live with him as soon as she is done with her vaccinations. “I cannot wait to give her the best life possible!” he said.

Little Beemo and the other dogs rescued from the facility have nothing to fear anymore – but, as the Olympian stressed, there are still millions of dogs in need of help in Korea. “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!” he wrote.

This is not the first time Kenworthy made an effort to help dogs while traveling for the Olympic Games. In 2014, he brought back home two stray pups he found near the Olympic Village in Sochi, Russia. It is incredible to see this sportsman go out of his way during such a huge event and do a bit of good for the animals who need it so much – and use his platform to encourage it even more! All image source: Gus Kenworthy/Instagram

Simba and Saeed are finally home!

FOUR PAWS International

I’ve never seen an animal rescue like this one. Mussa, a baby chimpanzee, was saved by poachers who brutally killed his mother and family. His rescue was made even more miraculous when a bush pilot with Virunga National Park offered to fly him to safety at Lwiro Primate Rehabilitation Center, a PASA member in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The look on Mussa’s face when he stares out the plane window - on his way to freedom - is absolutely heart-melting.

Click here to watch the inspiring video of Mussa’s amazing rescue!

It takes many dedicated hands, hearts and minds to organize the rescue of an endangered baby chimpanzee. Will you join us, and be a part of the effort to save other chimpanzees just like Mussa?

These babies belong with their mothers in the forest. Instead they are on tight ropes and trapped in small cages.

Innocent chimpanzees are ripped from their dying mother’s arms, tied up, locked in cages, and kept in isolation all over Africa. Sometimes they are only weeks old when this brutality happens. You have the power to rescue them. But if they aren’t saved by your support, I can’t imagine the horrible cruelty they will face.

My life is in jeopardy. Please show me kindness.

Mussa is just one of many baby chimpanzees that PASA members are rescuing from the black market. Since January, Lwiro Primate Rehabilitation Centre has already rescued two other baby chimpanzees.

Chimpanzee Conservation Center, a PASA member in Guinea, has saved three infant chimpanzees in the last three months.

Right now, we’re working with PASA members to rescue more than 10 orphaned chimpanzees from horrific situations in four countries. I will update you as soon as we have more information.

These orphans at Lwiro now have a future to look forward to.

In the meantime, watch this incredible video of Mussa's rescue and SHARE his story with your friends and family.

Like Mussa, these babies rely on your kindness to save them from a life of misery. They have had everything taken from them. Will you show them compassion?