Liverpool trio Michael Owen, Jamie Redknapp and Emile Heksey have signed a petition organised by animal rights group 'People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals' who are campaigning for an immediate end to the torture of cats and dogs in South Korea, one of the host countries of this year's World Cup Finals.
Dogs and cats in South Korea are hanged, beaten, burned and boiled alive before they are slaughtered and prepared as food.
The Liverpool trio wrote on the petition: "We respectfully urge the government of South Korea to ensure that cats and dogs receive full protection from intentional cruelty and torture."
A spokeswoman for PETA said: "Before dogs are eaten, they are often strung up and beaten. Then they are burned about their bodies, purportedly to improve their flavour.
"Cats are thrown alive into boiling water to extract their juice for use in tonics.
"The animals are kept in tiny, filthy cages for prolonged periods prior to their awful deaths."