The annual To the Rescue! gala supporting the animal protection work of Humane Society International and the Humane Society of the United States will take place Nov. 1, 2024, at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York City. International film and television actor and passionate dog advocate Daniel Henney will serve as the evening’s host, with a special appearance by actress, author, producer and rabbit lover Amy Sedaris and a performance by Grammy and SAG Award-winning singer, songwriter, producer, actress, vegan and philanthropist, Mýa. As a prominent Korean American star, Henney has worked with HSI for several years to raise awareness in South Korea about dog welfare.
“I’m absolutely thrilled to host the To the Rescue! gala. These organizations mean so much to me personally, as I adopted my beloved dog Juliette who was saved from a Korean meat farm by Humane Society International,” said Henney, known for his roles in Big Hero 6, Criminal Minds, Wheel of Time, X-Men Origins: Wolverine, and The Last Stand, and one of the most prominent Korean American celebrities speaking up in support of ending the dog meat industry. “It’s a privilege to support such an amazing cause, and I look forward to an inspiring evening, celebrating the Humane Society of the United States and Humane Society International for the meaningful impact they have on the lives of animals in need throughout the world.”
This year’s gala will shine a spotlight on the work Humane Society International and the Humane Society of the United States do to end the dog and cat meat trades, a cruel practice that continues in various parts of the world, including in South Korea, China, Indonesia, India and Viet Nam. Humane Society International has been at the forefront of this fight, working to close dog meat farms, rescue animals and advocate for stronger animal protection laws. In January 2024, South Korea’s National Assembly passed legislation to ban the dog meat industry. This historic vote followed years of campaigning by HSI/Korea and its allies and was the final hurdle to make such a ban official. By 2027, the breeding, slaughter and sale of dogs and dog meat for human consumption will be phased out and made illegal in South Korea.
“While on the ground with our rescue team in South Korea, I've seen skeletal dogs peering out of cramped cages in desperation, still wagging their tails with hope. I am so happy to be able to say that there is good reason to hope," said Kitty Block, president and CEO of the Humane Society of the United States and CEO of Humane Society International. "When we began our efforts to end the dog meat industry in South Korea nearly a decade ago, we were told that achieving a ban would be impossible. Earlier this year, the impossible happened: South Korea's National Assembly banned the dog meat industry. This is the kind of immense, systemic and lifesaving change that we work toward every day. To the Rescue! is both a celebration of the progress we've made for all animals—thanks to the help of long-time supporters like Daniel Henney—and a call to action for everyone who shares our commitment to creating a more humane world.”
Recognizing some critical allies in animal protection, Lifetime Achievement Awards will be presented to retiring members of the U.S. Congress Rep. Earl Blumenauer and Sen. Debbie Stabenow. Rep. Blumenauer has led efforts to combat animal cruelty as co-chair of the Congressional Animal Protection Caucus. He has fought to end the scourge of animal fighting, ensuring the U.S. Department of Agriculture had funding to enforce the Animal Welfare Act and Horse Protection Act, sponsoring legislation to end private ownership of primates, and leading the efforts to uphold state laws providing more space for farmed animals. As the Chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee, Sen. Stabenow twice defeated the odious “King Amendment” in the Farm Bill, which could have nullified 1,000 state laws to protect animals. She also led efforts to help domestic violence survivors and their pets, crack down on spectators and children at animal fighting ventures, and ensure the dog and cat meat trade didn’t take hold in the U.S.
The signature gala has benefitted from the generous support of top sponsor, Moroccanoil, as well as TJX Companies, Liberty Mutual Insurance, MissionWired, Avalon, RWT Production, Printcinch, Coegi, Data Axle, GiveBridge, Threshold, FlyteVu, Harvey Traveler, Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Kent Pet Group, Lippincott, Lockton and ROI. The after-party is sponsored by Stray Dog Capital.
Georgina Bloomberg, Brad Jakeman, Chuck Laue and Suzy Welch serve as gala chairs. The leadership committee includes Susan Atherton, Tessa Benson Tooley, Wendy and Howard Berk, Yolanda Berkowitz, Leslie Durso, Wayne S. Flick, Cathy Kangas, Jennifer Laue, Terry Rakolta, Courtney Stroum Meagher and Nathan Turner.
To The Rescue! includes a cocktail reception, a gourmet plant-based dinner curated by acclaimed vegan Chef Eddie Garza-Buchting, special guests, entertainment and a live auction.
For tickets, visit humanesociety.org/totherescue.
Images are available for download here.