Dogmeat site names family

A Wandsworth family had to deny involvement in dog butchery after a website advertised their home address as the London branch of an apparently fictional Korean dog meat business.

Environmental health officers found nothing incriminating at the Walshes' home last Tuesday, but police were called after fears that animal lovers taking the claims seriously might attempt reprisals against the family.

The internet site Kim Daewoo's Dogmeat Company' offers a mail-order service selling "low-fat quality" dogmeat, and boasts that its "steaks and roast-dog as well as other body parts" are of high quality.

It offers dogmeat recipes and a facility for choosing particular cuts of meat for online ordering. Visitors can play an animated game where darts are hurled at pictures of dogs, drawing blood.

A map identifies the Southfields address as a branch of the business, and the website urges people to "sell your dog" for meat by bringing it to the "modern equipped establishment".

But the only building situated there is the Walsh family home, and family pet Sammy, a King Charles spaniel, is alive and well.

Wandsworth Council's environmental health team investigated other nearby premises in case there was a genuine canine butchery that publicised the wrong address, but found nothing.

Inspector John Hayward of Wandworth Police said: "It is not known whether the website has given the wrong address or if it's some method of discrediting the Walsh family."

Michael Walsh, a semi-retired engineer said that if the website is a spoof he could think of no reason why his address would be identified.

One theory is that the site might aim to provoke reactions from animal liberationists, but Mr Walsh said he had no background in any kind of animal testing that might cause him to be targeted.

He contributes to voluntary efforts to raise funds for Research and Development at Bart's Hospital, but he said there was no animal testing element involved. Inspector Hayward agreed, "there is nothing to suggest he's been involved in any kind of research involving animals."

Police have set up a quick-response system to ensure the Walsh family have adequate protection, and the Borough

Intelligence Unit has told any officers responding to calls to the address to be aware of "safety issues".

14:28 Tuesday 16th July 2002

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